EDMONTON, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers funded by the Justice Centre are assisting Benita Pedersen, an Alberta resident facing a human rights complaint after distributing flyers opposing a proposed rainbow crosswalk in Westlock.

Ms. Pedersen is a local DJ, children’s entertainer, event coordinator, and workshop facilitator. In June 2023, after learning that the Town of Westlock planned to paint a rainbow crosswalk featuring colours associated with progressive pride and transgender inclusion, she created and distributed a flyer encouraging residents to contact local elected officials and oppose the project.

The flyer urged citizens to take political action, including contacting council with the message, “Cancel the rainbow crosswalk.” Ms. Pedersen said she distributed the flyer as part of a broader public conversation about issues affecting children and families. She further explained, “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. When I composed the flyer, one of my objectives was to warn parents about the potential consequences of children pursuing the pathway of transgenderism.”

Ms. Pedersen concluded, “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.”

On June 19, 2023, Ms. Laurie Hodge, then a private citizen and now a member of Westlock Town Council, filed a complaint under the Alberta Human Rights Act, alleging that the flyer discriminated on the basis of gender, gender identity, and gender expression.

On October 7, 2025, the Director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission referred the complaint to the Tribunal for a hearing after concluding there was a basis to consider whether section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act had been violated. Section 3 prohibits publications that indicate discrimination or an intention to discriminate, or that are likely to expose a person or class of persons to hatred or contempt on protected grounds, including gender, gender identity, and gender expression.

A two-week hearing has been scheduled for September 2026. The Director has now taken carriage of the complaint and is seeking to exclude many of Ms. Pedersen’s proposed witnesses from the hearing on the basis that their evidence is irrelevant. The parties have until May 6, 2026, to advise the Tribunal of any objections to each other’s witnesses.

Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre will continue defending Ms. Pedersen’s right to participate in peaceful democratic debate on matters of public concern.

Constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic said, “Albertans should be free to express their opinions on controversial topics without being accused of hatred.”

The Justice Centre is Canada’s leading civil liberties organization fighting for Charter rights and freedoms in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion. Founded in 2010, the Justice Centre funds lawyers across Canada, relies entirely on voluntary donations to carry out its mission, and issues official tax receipts to donors.