About Us
The Fernie Pride Society supports and connects the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the Elk Valley. Incorporated in December 2016, the Society is a hub for 2SLGBTQ+ people and their allies, programming special events as well as providing resource referrals.
Our vision is that the Elk Valley will be a safe, inclusive community for 2SLGBTQ+ people.
Our mission is to support and connect the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies through advocacy, resources, education, and inclusive events.
This year our keen group of volunteers have been hard at work. You can read about current and past projects and programs here. Just a few things we are working on:
- Monthly connectivity events for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals such as Rainbow Connections, Elk Valley Youth Pride events, 2SLGBTQ+ movie screenings, and general getting together;
- Maintaining relationships with local and regional groups and organizations in order to provide resources and referrals to individuals in the 2SLGBTQ+ community;
- Hosting the annual Elk Valley Pride Festival to celebrate, support, and connect the 2SLGBTQ+ communities in the Elk Valley;
- Providing local businesses and community organizations access to education in order to help them create safer spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals;
- Working with local schools and organizations to find opportunities within their organizations to support and connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth;
- As members of Canada’s national Pride organizations Fierte Canada Pride and Enchante Network, we are able to contribute to larger initiatives such as petitioning the federal government for better funding for Pride organizations across Canada;
- As a small Pride organization in BC we are able to connect with the BC NDP Premiere’s office how to proliferate Pride in small communities when resources are limited;
- As a local Pride organization in Fernie, BC we are able to present to local Municipal Governments such as the City of Fernie, the District of Sparwood, and the District of Elkford the need for diversity and inclusion in our communities, the need for funding for local Pride organizations, and the importance of visible support at the Municipal level for people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community to feel safer and more welcome in these small town
Fernie Pride Society is grateful to learn, work, and organize on the unceded ancestral territory of the ?aqam and Ktunaxa Nation.
Board of Directors
Bailey Hill (she/they)
Director
Neava Thompson (she/her)
Director – Youth Representative
Vacant
Director
Staff
Governance
In 2026, the Fernie Pride Society Board undertook a project to update and define the governance structure, after a decade of the existence and growth of the society. This work was supported by the Columbia Basin Trust Non-Profit Advisors program.
Fernie Pride Society operates a Hybrid Board Model. The Board does governance and has staff, but the Board is engaged in key portfolios/programmes via committees. This graphic is for example purposes and not meant to represent a full organization chart.
Operational Reporting -> To the Executive Director
- Day-to-day work direction, scheduling, task priorities
- Contract, pay, HR matters, performance, conduct
- First point of contact for day-to-day questions
Programme Accountability -> To the Committee
- Programme direction, goals, priorities – is the work going well?
- Reviewing monthly reports on delivery
- Periodic meetings and check-ins as a committee with appropriate staff
Roles
Fernie Pride would love you to volunteer. Below are descriptions of the roles and responsibilities
All Board Members
- Focus on key board functions:
- Set direction (vision, mission, values, strategy, priorities)
- Ensure resources (hiring ED/staff, ensure funding, etc.)
- Provide oversight (awareness of budget, adherence to mission, etc.)
- Guardians of Fernie Pride’s mission
- Attend board meetings
- Come prepared – read the materials before each meeting
- Vote with the organization’s best interests in mind
- Where possible, serve on a committee and/or support as a volunteer
- Be a positive, welcoming face for Fernie Pride
- Keep board discussions confidential, including the identity of community members who are not out
- Be a member of Fernie Pride Society
- Be invested in the organization (contributing time, energy, financial/resource support)
- Note: The Youth Board Member counts towards quorum and can vote if they are 16 or older.
- To the best of their ability/availability, attend and volunteer for the Elk Valley Pride Festival
- Wears the “Board Hat” – governing as a group.
- Allow 5-10 hours per month across baord meetings, prep, and volunteer work
President
- Lead and facilitate baord meetings
- Own the meeting agenda (ED may draft, but the President reviews, shapes and approves it)
- The ED’s main board contact – regular structured check-ins
- Lead the annual ED performance review on behalf of the whole board
- Speak for the board publicly and in sensitive situations
- Guide board succession planning, recruitment and onboarding
- Sign contracts and official documents on behalf of FPS
- Lead the Annual General Meeting
- Set the tone – model the culture you want the board to have
- Typically transitions into President role after a year or more as vice president, or other executive role on the board
- Note: At FPS the president is also currently backup admin for many accounts
- Holds signing authority for the bank accounts.
- Wears “The Board Hat” – leading the board, not the organization
- Allow approximately an extra 5 hours per month on top of base board member duties.
Vice President
- Step in for the President when they’re unavailable
- Chair meetings and be the ED’s contact when needed
- This is the succession role – generally expected to grow into the President role
- Take on specific assignments or lead committees when the President asks
- Supporting the President as needed; lead committees at the President’s request
- Help model the culture: collaborative, open, appreciative
- Requires as least one year as a board member as a pre-requisite
- Holds signing authority for the bank accounts.
- Wears “The Board Hat” – co-leader and successor-in-waiting
- Allow approximately an extra 3-5 hours per month on top of base board member duties.
Secretary
- Take accurate minutes at every board meeting and AGM
- Circulate minutes in a timely way after the meeting
- Keep board records organized and accessible to all board members (bylaws, minutes, resolutions, etc.)
- Ensure all board members have access to shared documents (Google Drive or equivalent)
- Send meeting notices with the right advance notice
- Know which bylaws FPS is operating under, and where they are
- Flag when governance documents need updating
- Step in to chair if both President and VP are unavailable.
- Accountable for the annual society filing, generally delegated to the Executive Director
- Holds signing authority for the bank accounts.
- Wears “The Board Hat” – keeper of records and process.
- Allow approximately an extra 2-4 hours per month on top of base board member duties.
Treasurer
- Meet regularly with the ED on finances
- Generally reports on the finances at every board meeting, showing key reports to give the board clarity and understanding of the finances. e.g. budget-vs-actual, income and expenses, project finances, etc. May delegate or work closely with the ED to produce the reports.
- Lead the overall annual budget process, working closely with the ED
- Make sure the right financial controsl and policies are in place
- Watch the funding pipeline; what’s expiring, what’s restricted
- Chair the Finance Committee
- NOT doing the bookkeeping, financial admin, or preparing the budget detail (this is done by the ED and/or financial admin).
- Holds signing authority on the bank accounts.
- Wears “The Board Hat” – financial oversight, not financial management.
- At Fernie Pride, also has CRA backup login.
- Allow approximately an extra 3-5 hours per month on top of base board member duties.
Committee Chair
- Appointed byt he board to provide governance oversight of a specific programme area.
- Set the direction and priorities for their committee area.
- Be the board’s main contact for the relevant staff or contractors.
- Review monthly reports and check-ins from the relevant contractor.
- Report back to the full board.
- Work collaboratively with the ED (not around them or above them).
- Note: The ED still manages operational matters (schedules, pay, HR), while the committee chair manages the programme or portfolio direction. Both may have direct contact with the relevant staff in these respective capacities.
- Wears “The Implementation Hat” – governing a specific programme area.
- Hours per month on top of base board member duties dependent on committee.
Executive Director
- Implement the board’s agreed strategy and priorities
- Manage day-to-day operations – keeping everything running
- Hire, supervise and support all staff and contractors
- Manage spending within the board-approved budget
- Lead grant writing, fundraisinga nd funder relationships
- Coordinate all programmes and projects
- Be the public face and primary contact for the organization
- Report to the board, keeping them informed with no surprises
- Bring decisions and requests to the board when board approval is needed.