The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has joined the defense of a Westlock resident accused of violating Alberta’s human rights law after distributing flyers opposing a proposed rainbow crosswalk.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

A woman from Westlock, Alberta, is preparing to defend herself before a provincial human rights tribunal after distributing flyers opposing a proposed rainbow-themed crosswalk in her community, a case that has drawn the involvement of one of Canada’s leading constitutional advocacy organizations.

According to a report from LifeSite News, Benita Pedersen is facing proceedings under the Alberta Human Rights Act stemming from flyers she circulated in 2023 urging residents to oppose the installation of a rainbow crosswalk tied to LGBT activism.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced that its legal team will represent Pedersen and defend what it described as her right to engage in public debate on issues affecting the community.

“Albertans should be free to express their opinions on controversial topics without being accused of hatred,” constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic said in a statement released by the organization.

Pedersen, who works as a DJ, children’s entertainer, and workshop coordinator, said she became involved after learning local officials planned to paint a rainbow crosswalk in Westlock in June 2023. In response, she created and distributed flyers encouraging residents to contact elected officials and oppose the proposal.

According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, the flyer included the message “Cancel the rainbow crosswalk.”

Pedersen stated that her intention was to raise concerns she believes affect children and families.

“Based on my personal experiences in interacting with parents and children, I have learned that the practice of ‘gender affirmation’ harms kids more than it helps,” Pedersen said.

“When I composed the flyer, one of my objectives was to warn parents about the potential consequences of children pursuing the pathway of transgenderism.”

She also argued that accusations of hate speech suppress open discussion.

“The way we solve problems is by having open communication. Accusations of ‘incitement of hatred’ shut down the conversation and therefore hinder the ability to solve problems,” Pedersen said.

In June 2023, Laurie Hodge, then a private citizen and now a member of the Westlock town council, filed a human rights complaint against Pedersen alleging discrimination based on “gender, gender identity, and gender expression” under Alberta law.

The complaint was later reviewed by the Alberta Human Rights Commission. On October 7, 2025, the commission director determined there was sufficient basis to move the matter to a tribunal hearing to consider whether Section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act had been violated.

Section 3 prohibits publications or statements that indicate discrimination or are likely to expose individuals or groups to “hatred or contempt” on protected grounds, including gender identity and gender expression.

A two-week hearing has now been scheduled for September 2026.

According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, the commission director is also seeking to exclude several of Pedersen’s proposed witnesses from testifying, arguing their evidence is irrelevant to the proceeding.

The organization stated that both sides were given until May 6, 2026, to file objections concerning proposed witnesses ahead of the hearing.

The case comes amid broader disputes across Canada regarding “pride” flags and rainbow crosswalks on public property. As reported by LifeSite News, Westlock residents approved a bylaw last year prohibiting non-governmental flags on municipal buildings and requiring all crosswalks to maintain a standard white-striped appearance.

Other municipalities in Alberta have enacted comparable measures. The town of Didsbury adopted a policy restricting “pride” flags and themed crosswalks on government property, according to another LifeSite News report. Barrhead previously enacted rules limiting the flags permitted on municipal buildings to Canadian and Alberta provincial flags.

Debates over “pride” symbols on public property have also extended into schools and municipal institutions elsewhere in Canada. A separate LifeSite News report detailed efforts to reintroduce LGBT “pride” flags into classrooms in Ontario.

Meanwhile, the Ontario town of Emo faced proceedings before a human rights tribunal after officials rejected a proposal to proclaim June as “pride” month and fly the LGBT flag in 2020, according to another LifeSite News report.

The Westlock case is expected to proceed later this year as tribunal hearings begin.