Fort Smith residents are painting a crosswalk in rainbow colours at the town’s main four-way stop ahead of the second annual Frank Gruben Pride Festival.
At a meeting last week, the town approved a $1,500 donation to the organization to cover the rental cost of the Centennial Arena for an event taking place at noon on June 14. That will form part of an overall celebration from June 13-15.
Last year’s parade, organized by Ryker Lonehardt, aimed to highlight the search for Frank Gruben – a Gwich’in-Inuvialuk man and member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community who was last seen in the town on May 6, 2023.
The 2025 parade is scheduled to start at the community recreation centre and end at the arena on June 13. A request to briefly close the road earlier in June so a crosswalk can be painted at the intersection of McDougal Road and Breynat Street was also approved.
While painting projects have been completed at other locations like the post office and near the PWK High School, the crosswalk would be the first one along the parade route.
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