JTFN in Yellowknife raises pride flag for first time

The military in Yellowknife is joining at least three bases across the country to show its support for the LGBTQ community.

For the first time, Joint Task Force North (JTFN) is raising the pride flag to coincide with Yellowknife's NWT Pride Festival happening this weekend.

Brig.-Gen. Mike Nixon, the commander of JTFN, says a couple days ago a member asked him if it would be possible to raise the flag.

He says his answer was easy: absolutely.

• City of Yellowknife shows its pride with rainbow crosswalk downtown

• Sign promoting NWT Pride festival vandalized

"I mean, we are an inclusiveteam and there all types of people that make up the Canadian Armed Forces just like Canadian society.

"We're part of the [Yellowknife] community as well and it shows some solidarity with the town."

Feelings of solidarity have been mixed in Yellowknife leading up to NWT Pride.

Two weeks ago, the City of Yellowknife painted a downtowncrosswalk in the well-known rainbow design.

But last week, after festival organizers put their signs up promoting the event, they were vandalized and torn down.

"I don't know who would do something like this," said ImanKassam, a board member, at the time.

Making history

CFB Edmonton was the first military base in Canada to raise the pride flag, after an openly gay sergeant-major asked in 2013.

And last week, 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan raised the pride flag, as well as CFB Borden in Ontario.

Nixon says his decision wasn't about being among the few bases who have made the gesture, but he does expect more to follow suit in the future.

"It's 2016 and it's Canada," Nixon said.

"There are some places in the world where there is still a very, very difficult situations for the LGBTQ community, thankfully Canada isn't one of them. And we're part of that country. So it was a very easy decision."