Crosswalk gets rainbow flag paint job
LGBTQ symbol now adorns Hay River
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, August 15, 2016
HAY RIVER
Hay River now has a crosswalk painted in the colours of the LGBTQ rainbow flag.
Mayor Brad Mapes helps paint the crosswalk in front of NWT Centennial Library in the colours of the LGBTQ rainbow flag on Aug. 5. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
Mayor Brad Mapes and a small group of volunteers, including some members of his family, painted the crosswalk the evening of Aug. 5.
"I think it looks pretty sharp," he said of the finished product on Woodland Drive in front of NWT Centennial Library.
Mapes said he and his wife, daughter and an employee of one of his companies started the painting and were joined by another community resident.
"It was just a way to kind of help move forward the project," he said.
The mayor said Hay River Pride and some supporters had planned to do the painting on July 31 but there was a mix-up in getting everything together for the work.
Town council approved painting the crosswalk in the colours of the rainbow flag at its meeting on July 25.
The idea was suggested to council by Hay River Pride, which said rainbow flag crosswalks have been appearing in some other Canadian cities and towns - including Fort Smith earlier this year - as a way to show acceptance and support for the LGBTQ community.
Storm Larocque, the co-ordinator of Hay River Pride, made the proposal to council at its July 11 meeting.
She said then that many people in Yellowknife are "super excited" to come to the Hay River Pride event, scheduled for on Aug. 13 and see the crosswalk.
Council has also approved flying the rainbow flag for all of August on the pole between the old town hall and NWT Centennial Library.
