Westlock Community Advocate Benita Pedersen Targeted by Human Rights Tribunal Over Flyers

Benita Pedersen

Friday, May 1st 2026 by: Jason LaFace

An Alberta woman known for her tireless community work is now facing a human rights tribunal complaint after distributing flyers that opposed a proposed rainbow crosswalk in Westlock. The case is raising serious concerns about free speech and the weaponization of human rights processes against everyday Albertans who speak up for common sense.

Benita Pedersen, a dedicated Westlock-area resident, DJ, children’s entertainer, and event organizer, is being represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF). In June 2023, she helped distribute flyers urging residents to contact town council and voice opposition to the rainbow crosswalk project, with a clear call to “Cancel the rainbow crosswalk.

At Alberta Radio, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Benita since the COVID era on various community events. She’s a determined voice that many in our province rely on. Benita consistently brings energy, enthusiasm, and kindness to every gathering — always putting a smile on faces. Her commitment earned her the 2025 Community Spirit Award by the United Conservative Party.

This human rights complaint appears to be little more than a political witch hunt, driven by those who prioritize ideological agendas over community input and biological reality. In our view, it reflects an effort by certain Westlock figures — like Councillor Laurie Hodge — to support policies that many Albertans see as sexualizing children in schools and promoting non-scientific ideas that contradict basic human biology.

Pedersen and others in Westlock simply stood for politically neutral public spaces and the right of residents to have their voices heard through democratic processes. The town ultimately held a plebiscite and voted for a neutrality bylaw, showing clear community preference.

Cases like this highlight growing worries about selective enforcement of human rights laws that seem to silence dissent on cultural issues while ignoring broader community concerns. Alberta Radio believes strongly in protecting free expression, parental rights, and logical, evidence-based approaches to public policy.

We stand with Benita Pedersen and encourage all Albertans who value common sense, morality, and protecting children to support her and others brave enough to speak out. People like Benita — who invest countless hours in community building — deserve our thanks, not harassment through tribunals.

Stay tuned to Alberta Radio for more on this developing story and updates from the tribunal. We’ll continue bringing you the perspectives that matter most to hardworking Albertans.

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~Sources: Western Standard