In honour of Pride Month, Sea 2 Sky Allies, Pride Squamish, PearlSpace Support Services Society, and the Squamish Community Foundation are proud to present a screening of the acclaimed documentary, Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story, on June 11 at the Brackendale Art Gallery & Culture Centre.
The film tells the powerful true story of Delwin Vriend, who was fired in 1991 from his job at a Christian college in Edmonton for being gay. When Alberta’s human rights legislation failed to protect him, Vriend took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada – and won.
The 1998 Vriend v. Alberta decision enshrined sexual orientation as a protected right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, helping shape the future of 2SLGBTQI+ rights in Canada. Directed by Darrin Hagen and produced by the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) and the Edmonton Queer History Project (EQHP), the documentary screening is part of a national Pride Month collaboration between ECF, EQHP, and local community foundations.
It has earned multiple Audience Choice Awards and international acclaim. “This film honours both a pivotal moment in Canadian history and the ongoing fight for equality,” says Karen Clarke, Executive Director of the Squamish Community Foundation.
“We believe fostering conversations about equality and human rights strengthens our community.” Tickets are $20 by donation and will be sold by the BAG.
