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Fort Smith celebrates Pride with weekend festival

Fort Smith, N.W.T., celebrated the Frank Gruben Pride Festival this past weekend with drum circles, drag events, community meals and more.

Three-day festival brought the N.W.T. community together to honour Frank Gruben

Julie Beaver · CBC News ·
A man stands in front of a Pride flag, holding a small child and smiling.
Pierre-E Chaillon and his daughter, Amka, joined the Pride festivities in Fort Smith this past weekend. (Julie Beaver/CBC)

Fort Smith, N.W.T., celebrated the Frank Gruben Pride Festival this past weekend with drum circles, drag events, community meals and more.

The festival, organized by Ryker Lonehardt, was in honour of Frank Gruben, a member of the LGBTQ+ community who went missing over a year ago.

Lonehardt didn't know Gruben personally, but told CBC his disappearance had a profound impact on him and the community.

Since his disappearance, Lonehardt said he's gotten to know his family.

"It's been really nice, hearing the stories, hearing about Frank and what he loved to do when he was not missing," Lonehardt said.

"Honestly, even though this is a Pride festival, I don't want it to limit people — it's really just a festival for everyone for Frank."

A woman in a rainbow striped sweater smiles at a child in a shirt that says "Love".
Shelby La Rose and her daughter, Jaylin, at a table for the Northern Mosaic Network. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
A woman using a walker smiles at the camera.
Freda Schumann visits a booth during Saturday's events. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
Two people stand together and smile in an arena.
Fort Smith Mayor Fred Daniels and his daughter, Amy Harris, were out at the arena on Saturday as the community gathered for its Pride festival. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
Two women sit at a table with a bright tablecloth.
Ria Coleman and Grace Whelly pose for a photo Saturday at Fort Smith's arena, in the midst of the community's Pride festival. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
A person in a dress strikes a pose in front of an audience.
Kenneth Coleman, a.k.a. Liberty Wild, performs during Fort Smith's Pride festival on Saturday. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
A person in a bright blue raincoat holds out a brightly coloured umbrella.
Thunder Normz of Yellowknife at the Queen Elizabeth campground in Fort Smith on Sunday. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
A person with purple hair looks up at the camera and smiles while putting beads on a needle.
Ryker Lonehardt joins a group of people at picnic tables at the Queen Elizabeth campground, where a variety of beads and crafts were laid out. (Julie Beaver/CBC)
A bunch of people sit in a library listening to someone read a book.
Slickeur, Thee Gemma Emma and Corax Nova (a.k.a. Ryker Lonehardt) read to families at Fort Smith's Mary Kaeser Library during Drag Story Time to wrap up the community's Pride festival. (Julie Beaver/CBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Beaver

Journalist

Julie Beaver is a journalist with CBC North in Fort Smith, N.W.T. Reach her at julie.beaver@cbc.ca

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