BCLC raises Progress flag at HQ in celebration of Pride Month

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has highlighted its commitment to the celebration of pride, diversity, inclusion and belonging by raising the Progress flag outside its Kamloops headquarters.

In celebration of Pride Month 2021, the BCLC has also refreshed the Pride crosswalk at its headquarters and the Vancouver office’s building decals to display the additional colours and design on the Progress flag.

Peter ter Weeme, BCLC’s Chief Social Purpose Officer and Vice President, Player Experience, commented: “Diversity, inclusion and belonging is a journey, not a destination, and I’m so proud to see the Progress flag flown at BCLC’s headquarters in Kamloops. This signifies an important step forward in BCLC’s journey to better reflect diversity and inclusion.”

The BCLC also highlighted that it remains committed to creating a workplace which is both diverse and inclusive – a place where all employees have equal opportunity and are treated with dignity and respect. 

Katelyn Boughton, Kamloops Pride Committee President and Senior System Analyst at BCLC, is a founding member of the corporation’s own Pride Committee and has played a key role in many Pride initiatives, such as the 2019 unveiling of the rainbow crosswalk.

Boughton said: “Flying the Progress flag at BCLC symbolises that diversity, inclusion, belonging and feeling accepted as LGBTQ2S+ are important to us, and matter to everyone at BCLC.

“This was a collaborative effort between Executives, the Pride Committee and the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee and demonstrates BCLC’s commitment to the LGBTQ2S+ community in Kamloops, Vancouver and right across the province.”

The lottery’s Pride and Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committees help it to support and promote a diverse and inclusive working environment that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.

The BCLC noted that it humbly acknowledges that its head office is situated on the unceded, traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and that its flags, including the new Progress flag, will continue to fly at half-mast to honour the victims of the Kamloops residential school and their families.