Banff Pride Crosswalk Defaced With Black Paint, Town Responds

BANFF - A rainbow crosswalk symbolizing inclusion in Banff was deliberately defaced over the weekend, prompting widespread reaction from residents and a coordinated response from both Banff Pride and the Town of Banff.

According to Banff Pride Executive Director Jeffrey Carpenter, the vandalism occurred sometime before Sunday evening near the Pedestrian Bridge, where the Pride crosswalk is located. “Over the weekend, Banff’s Rainbow Crosswalk next to the Pedestrian Bridge was deliberately defaced with what looks like black paint,” Carpenter said. “It was a targeted act against a visible symbol of Pride and inclusion in our community.”

Carpenter said Banff Pride was notified late Sunday by community members who were “understandably upset.” His first reaction, he said, was “deep disappointment.”

“Acts like this are painful,” he said, “but they also remind us why visibility and solidarity matter so much.”

Banff Pride Responds

Despite the damage, Carpenter said the local response has been marked by empathy and resilience. “There’s been a mix of sadness and strength. Many have reached out expressing love and support, from local residents to allies across the country,” he said. “We’re already in touch with the Town of Banff regarding cleanup and repainting the crosswalk. We hope this moment brings people together rather than divide us. Hate has no place in Banff. The actions of a few will not deter our community’s commitment to safety and inclusion.”

For Banff Pride, the crosswalk has long served as a visible reminder of belonging. “Symbols like the Rainbow Crosswalk tell people they belong,” Carpenter said. “For someone walking down the street questioning if it’s safe to be themselves, that colour means hope. When that’s defaced, it sends a chilling message to queer and trans people that their safety and existence are being rejected.”

Carpenter said the organization also faced a wave of online hate after promoting this year’s Pride Festival, which intensified after news of the vandalism spread. “We received hundreds of comments filled with slurs, targeted attacks, and threats,” he said. “When someone says ‘it’s just paint,’ they’re missing the larger picture. This is about a pattern of hate that begins with words, moves to actions, and directly impacts the mental health and safety of real people.”

Town Cleanup Underway

The Town of Banff confirmed it is aware of the incident and has begun efforts to remove the tar-like substance.

“The Town’s Streets Department started by hand scraping off the hardened areas of tar, while being careful not to damage the rainbow paint installation below,” said Jason Darrah, the Town’s Director of Communications and Marketing. “They then used an environmentally friendly degreaser powder and a power broom sweeper to remove about 30 percent. They are now using a hotsy (a high-pressure hot water washer) to see how much more can be removed.”

Darrah said the Town will continue to assess whether the crosswalk can be restored or if it will require a new installation.

He also provided background on the crosswalk’s history and cost. The first Pride crosswalk was installed in 2018 on Bear Street for about $15,000. When Bear Street was rebuilt in 2020, the crosswalk was relocated and expanded near the Pedestrian Bridge for nearly $30,000, and repainted again in 2024 after bridge and utility work for roughly the same amount.

A Divided Public Reaction

The original Facebook post from Banff Pride, which read “Hate has no home in Banff,” drew more than 2,000 comments within a day, many supportive but others dismissive or hostile. Some users condemned the act as “heartbreaking” and “a reminder that love will always win,” while others questioned whether the crosswalk was necessary or accused Banff Pride of “pushing an agenda.” The polarized reaction underscored the broader tension between symbolic inclusion and resistance to visible representation.

Beyond Banff

Carpenter said incidents like this are part of a growing pattern seen in smaller communities across Alberta and Canada. “These incidents don’t happen in isolation. They reflect a growing climate of fear and misinformation,” he said.

Even so, he said Banff’s queer community remains strong. “Banff continues to stand firmly on the side of inclusion. The queer community here, and across the Bow Valley, has built something strong, a visible and vibrant presence that refuses to be erased. Every rainbow crosswalk, every Pride flag, and every public act of allyship sends a message that love, respect, and belonging will always outweigh hate.”

For now, Town crews continue working to remove the paint, and Banff Pride has pledged to restore the crosswalk regardless of the outcome.

“We will repaint it. We will rise above it,” Carpenter said. “Our community will always respond to hate with pride, unity, and love.”