B.C.'s streets are alive with every colour of the rainbow. Every time a new rainbow crosswalk is approved in the province, news stories mention other nearby towns that also have colourful roads. It feels like everywhere—from the heart of Davie Village to the tiny town of Princeton (population: 2,828)—has embraced the rainbow.

While it’s easy to think of B.C. as a liberal paradise, there’s still opposition. Councils in Merritt and Valemount both voted against the rainbow crosswalks, while some populous areas—like Burnaby, Richmond, and West Vancouver—have never even discussed the idea.

Now, the Georgia Straight has compiled all our glorious rainbow crosswalks into one place. Scroll through the listings or check out the interactive map to find your closest.

This listing will be updated to reflect changes.

Jump to: Lower Mainland | Vancouver Island and Coastal B.C. | Interior B.C. | Northern B.C. | Interactive Map

Lower Mainland

Vancouver Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Davie Street and Bute Street intersection, Vancouver
Status: Active
When: July 29, 2013
History: The first permanent rainbow crosswalks in Canada. They were repainted in 2016 with the construction of the Jim Deva Plaza.
Information: Read more here

New Westminster Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Columbia Street and Church Street intersection
Status: Active
When: July 27, 2015
History: A day after being unveiled, a 91-year-old man vandalized the crosswalk with white paint.
Information: Read more here

Squamish Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Cleveland Avenue between Victoria Street and Main Street, Squamish
Status: Active
When: June 30, 2016
History: The council voted unanimously in favour of the crosswalk in January 2016.
Information: Read more here

Maple Ridge Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: 224 Street near Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge
Status: Active
When: July 28, 2016
History: The council approved the crosswalk on June 12, 2016, following the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Information: Read more here

University of the Fraser Valley Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford campus, Abbotsford
Status: Active
When: September 2016
History: The crosswalk was painted prior to the start of the 2016 fall semester. The UFV Pride Collective initially voted against the measure as it felt like "lip service".
Information: Read more here

Port Moody Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Newport Village, Port Moody
Status: Planned
When: Approved September 12, 2017
History: The council approved the plans in September 2017, but voted in November to move the proposed site from Murray Street to Newport Village.
Information: Read more here

Fort Langley Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Glover Road and Mary Avenue, Fort Langley
Status: Active
When: September 14, 2017
History: Only a few days after its installation, the crosswalk was vandalized by someone performing burn-outs on it.
Information: Read more here

Whistler Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Two on Main Street, close to Whistler Public Library, Whistler
Status: Active
When: September 15, 2017
History: The crosswalks were launched the same year as Whistler Pride’s 25th anniversary.
Information: Read more here

Coquitlam Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Burlington Drive and Pinetree Way, outside Coquitlam City Hall
Status: Active
When: March 28, 2018
History: The crosswalk was proposed in September 2017 and divided the council, before they approved the plans in October.
Information: Read more here

British Columbia Institute of Technology Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Goard Way, outside the main BCIT building, Burnaby Campus, Burnaby
When: May 14, 2018
Status: Active
History: The crosswalk was installed just before the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (May 17).
Information: Read more here

Surrey Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Old Yale Road and University Drive intersection, Surrey
Status: Planned
When: June 19, 2018
History: Mayor Linda Hepner made the decision without council input. Some opponents have argued it would cost over $100,000, but Hepner said it will cost $8,500 over five years. It was installed in time for Surrey Pride 2018.
Information: Read more here

White Rock Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Five Corners intersection, White Rock
Status: Planned
When: Approved May 31, 2018
History: The council approved the “inclusive” crossings and hoped to have them painted before the rainbow flag-raising on July 28.
Information: Read more here

Vancouver Island and Coastal B.C.

Victoria Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Pandora Street at Broad Street intersection, Victoria
Status: Active
When: June 22, 2015
History: Coun. Jeremy Loveday posted a photo of Edmonton’s temporary rainbow crosswalk on social media and was overwhelmed by the response. Council unanimously approved the project.
Information: Read more here

Nanaimo Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Two crosswalks at Commercial Street and Bastion Street intersection, Nanaimo
Status: Active
When: June 6, 2016
History: In September 2016, Bible verses were graffitied over one of the rainbow crosswalks.
Information: Read more here

Ladysmith Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Gatacre Street and First Avenue intersection, Ladysmith
Status: Active
When: June 18, 2017
History: Within two weeks of approving the crosswalk, Ladysmith had painted it.
Information: Read more here

Campbell River Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Shoppers Row and 10th Avenue, Campbell River
Status: Removed
When: June 20, 2017
History: Volunteers painted a temporary crosswalk in June 2016 for Pride. A vinyl one was installed in June 2017, but quickly destroyed by vandals. In March 2018, the council voted to ban all non-standard crosswalks.
Information: Read more about the vote to ban rainbow crosswalks here

Port Alberni Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Argyle Street near Fourth Avenue, beside City Hall, Port Alberni
Status: Temporary, now permanent
When: Temporary chalk crosswalk June 2017; permanent crosswalk installed July 17, 2017
History: After the success of a chalk rainbow crosswalk outside City Hall, two city councillors launched a GoFundMe to cover costs. The city painted it in time for Pride 2017.
Information: Read more here

Courtenay Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Duncan Avenue and Fifth Avenue, Courtenay
Status: Active
When: May 31, 2018
History: Courtenay’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized on June 1, only a day after it was installed.
Information: Read more here  

Wellington Secondary School Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Outside Wellington Secondary School, Nanaimo
Status: Active
When: June 6, 2018
History: The high school’s Queer Straight Alliance fundraised for the crosswalk for several years, and the school parental advisory committee contributed $1,500.
Information: Read more here

Cowichan Secondary School Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Outside Cowichan Secondary School, James Street, Duncan
Status: Planned
When: Approved June 6, 2018
History: North Cowichan municipal council approved the crosswalk on June 6. Of the seven members, two voted against it.
Information: Read more here

Interior B.C

Thompson Rivers University Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Between the human resources building and Old Main, Thompson Rivers University Campus, Kamloops
Status: Active
When: September 16, 2013
History: Thompson Rivers University’s rainbow crosswalk was the first in the B.C. Interior, and the second in Canada. It’s at one of the busiest intersections on campus.
Information: Read more here

Castlegar Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Third Street between Columbia Avenue and 13 Avenue, Castlegar
Status: Active
When: May 8, 2014
History: The initiative was approved in November 2013. It was the third crosswalk in the province, after Vancouver and Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
Information: Read more here

Princeton Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Bridge Street, at the intersection of Kenley Avenue and Veterans Boulevard, Princeton
Status: Active
When: July 30, 2015
History: Princeton’s rainbow crosswalk didn’t attract much fuss. It was painted before the eight annual Princeton Traditional Music Festival.
Information: Read more here

Kelowna Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Lawrence Avenue and Pandosy Street intersection, Kelowna
Status: Active
When: August 6, 2015
History: The four crosswalks were unveiled just before the city’s pride march that year.
Information: Read more here

Nelson Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Stanley Street and Victoria Street intersection, Nelson
Status: Active
When: September 6, 2015
History: A team of young people originally tried to spray-paint a different crossing in Nelson days before Kootenay Pride, but got caught by a police officer. They managed to contact Nelson council for their blessing and painted the rainbow crossing themselves a few days later.
Information: Read more here

Summerland Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: One at the corner of Main Street and Kelly Avenue; one on Victoria Road between Main Street and Junilee Road West, Summerland
Status: Active
When: September 10, 2015
History: The crosswalks were proposed in August, and painted around a month later.
Information: Read more here

Valemount Rainbow Crosswalk
Location: Fifth Avenue, Valemount
Status: Temporary
When: August 4, 2016
History: Valemount council unanimously rejected the proposal for a rainbow crosswalk on July 26, 2016. In response, a team of around 50 residents drew a chalk rainbow crosswalk in the proposed location anyway.
Information: Read more here

Selkirk College Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Selkirk College Campus, Castlegar
Status: Active
When: September 2, 2016
History: Selkirk College added a rainbow to its Castlegar campus to demonstrate its support for the LGBTQ community.
Information: Read more here

Vernon Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: 30th Avenue between 33rd Street and 34th Street, Vernon
Status: Active
When: May 18, 2017
History: The crosswalk was approved by Vernon council six votes to one. Local company Caliber Sports Systems installed it at no cost to the city.
Information: Read more here

Fernie Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: In front of Fernie Secondary School; downtown Fernie
Status: Active; unclear
When: June 1, 2017
History: Fernie Secondary School have a rainbow crosswalk outside their school. There were plans for more across downtown Fernie but their status is unclear.
Information: Read more here

Rossland Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Washington Street, opposite Rossland Summit School, Rossland
Status: Active
When: September 5, 2017
History: It took two years of planning to install Rossland's rainbow crosswalk, as the street spent some time undergoing repairs.
Information: Read more here

Salmon Arm Crosswalk
Where: Fifth Street SW, near the Blackburn Skate Park, Salmon Arm
Status: Unclear
When: Approved January 15, 2018
History: The council approved a budget of $2,000 for a rainbow crosswalk to be installed over an existing crosswalk on Fifth Street SW, leaving the decision up to city staff.
Information: Read more here

Merritt Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Coldwater Hotel parking lot, Merritt
Status: Active
When: March 25, 2018
History: Merritt city council rejected a proposal for a rainbow crosswalk on February 27, but local groups protested. Coldwater Hotel’s owners offered their parking lot for a 12-metre rainbow.
Information: Read more here

Kamloops Airport Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Outside the arrivals area and next to the terminal, Kamloops Airport
Status: Active
When: April 13, 2018
History: There was over a year of discussion about where to put rainbow crosswalks in Kamloops. The crosswalk was approved unanimously by Kamloops Airport Authority Society representatives.
Information: Read more here

Cranbrook Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Industrial Road 1, in front of the School District 5 building
Status: Active
When: May 28, 2018
History: The crosswalk was enthusiastically supported by the local Board of Education. Around 100 people showed up for its opening.
Information: Read more here

Williams Lake Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Williams Lake
Status: Planned
When: Approved June 12, 2018
History: Members of Williams Lake Pride Committee brought the motion to council. It was approved, and the committee plans to fundraise to cover costs. 
Information: Read more here

Northern B.C.

Masset Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Collinson Avenue and Main Street intersection, Masset
Status: Active
When: June 2015 (estimated)
History: Masset approved rainbow crosswalks on June 11, 2015, but it is unclear when the crosswalks were installed. They were repainted in 2017.
Information: Read more here

Smithers Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Main Street and Second Avenue Intersection, Smithers
Status: Active
When: Late June 2016
History: Anna Ziegler wrote to the council requesting a rainbow crosswalk, which they granted. It was installed across two days in late June and vandalized with burnouts shortly after.
Information: Read more here

Prince George Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Seventh Avenue at the intersection of Quebec Street and Canada Games Way, Prince George
Status: Active
When: June 14, 2016
History: The council approved the crosswalk in April 2016. It was painted shortly after the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Information: Read more here

Prince Rupert Rainbow Pathway
Where: Cow Bay Road, Prince Rupert
Status: Active
When: June 16, 2016
History: The council approved a rainbow crosswalk in June 2015. In 2016, it was changed to a pathway instead. The town apparently boasts two rainbow crosswalks, but it’s unclear where they are.
Information: Read more here

Terrace Rainbow Crosswalks
Where: Park Avenue, either side of the Emerson Street intersection, Terrace
Status: Active
When: June 30, 2016
History: The original crosswalk was painted in front of City Hall, but it eroded over the winter. The replacements were painted a few blocks over in 2017.
Information: Read more here

Dawson Creek Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: 15th Street and 109th Street opposite South Peace Secondary School, Dawson Creek
Status: Active
When: March 2017
History: The rainbow crosswalk was approved in August 2016 and painted in March 2017.
Information: Read more here

Kitimat Rainbow Crosswalk
Where: Upper City Centre Mall parking lot, Kitimat
Status: Active
When: September 6, 2017
History: The council approved the rainbow crosswalk, but its original location was an uncontrolled crossing on a high speed road, so they moved it to a parking lot.
Information: Read more here

Interactive Map