MINTO – Town council has agreed to a plan that will see Pride banners installed on light standards leading into Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston from the beginning of May until the end of September each year.
The move came in response to a request from the Minto Pride committee seeking the town’s help in setting up more durable decorations during Pride Month due to continued vandalism of decorations currently installed by the committee.
“Every year our Pride decorations are targeted, and the outcome usually results in them being vandalized and destroyed,” stated committee chair Brayden Scott in a letter received by council on July 11.
The committee suggested banners installed on downtown light fixtures during Pride month would be less susceptible to vandalism.
During a delegation to council on Sept. 19, Scott asked council to consider funding the installation of four banners per urban centre for display during Pride Month (June) and into the summer.
“The committee will still continue to decorate the pole wraps for the month of June,” said Scott.
“However, we desperately see a need for more permanent installations and an overall representation within the Town of Minto.
“The reason we are asking the town to purchase the banners is to show their continued support, commitment and dedication to this initiative.”
He continued, “We understand that you may have concerns that supporting our request may set a precedent with other committees. This has been a concern presented before and other initiatives related to Minto Pride, such as the inclusivity crosswalk that was installed in Harrison.
“However, the crosswalk has been extremely well received by many members of our community, as well as many others who have passed through Harriston at one time or another.
“We also feel that the council supporting this initiative would be a strong response to the several hate crimes that have occurred in each of our towns.”
Pride committee member Jessica Rowden told council “we continue to experience acts of hate towards our decorations and initiatives.
“These acts of hate and vandalism cost our committee significant money and time each time they happen,” she explained.
“They also serve as a reminder of the harm directed towards the queer community.
“To our knowledge, no other committee or group has experienced the same amount of targeted hate crimes, vandalism and destruction that we have during Pride Month and other events throughout the year.”
Rowden added, “It is in response to this unanticipated vandalism and hate that we’re proposing the banners, as they present a more sustainable, cost effective and long-lasting alternative, which will share a collective goal of promoting safety and inclusivity here in Minto.”
Rowden said council offering financial support of the initiative “would continue to demonstrate their leadership and active allyship and be a proactive stance against hate.
“Matters of safety and inclusion hit very close to home for many of us, both in the Minto Pride committee as well as in the greater Minto community,” said Rowden.
“Even attending tonight’s delegation, we needed to consider potential acts of hate and harm towards us, which isn’t likely the experience of most other delegates coming here in front of your council.
“As a committee, our goal is to increase safety and inclusion for members of the 2SLGBTQIA community here in Minto.”
“It’s extremely unfortunate that this has happened and continues to happen,” said Mayor Dave Turton.
“I actually find it quite sad. It’s unfortunate that we do not have surveillance all over town to catch the folks that are doing it.
“And I’m certain that it’s just a minority of people, close minded folks … they might not even be from our town.”
Later in the meeting, economic and community development director Belinda Wick-Graham presented a staff report recommending the town facilitate the request, while putting the onus of the Pride Committee pay for the banners.
The report indicates town staff agree with the Minto Pride Committee that “the addition of the banners on the light poles would be a more permanent representation of Pride, have a longer life span, be more environmentally sustainable, be more cost effective and would reduce the ease of vandalism.”
The report notes the town supports the Royal Canadian Legion each year with providing time and labour to install and remove Remembrance Day banners with the banner production costs being paid for by Legions in Harriston and Palmerston.
Seasonal banners hung for various occasions were purchased either by the municipality (Canada Day) or the three downtown organizations in the community, Wick-Graham explained.
“To ensure equity to all organizations in the use of banner arms and the support provided by the Town of Minto,” staff recommended council approve installation of four Pride banners in each downtown (two at each entrance into the downtowns) from the beginning of May until the end of September, the report states.
“This demonstrates support for inclusivity not just during Pride Month, but also helps to reduce the Town of Minto’s installation costs.”
The report also recommends:
- production cost of the banners be the responsibility of the Minto Pride Committee;
- the town provides the labour each year for the installation and removal the banners; and
- the municipality assist the Minto Pride Committee in fundraising though social media and website content and process any donations received through municipal office.
Based on the cost of similar banners installed in Fergus, the report estimates the price for the 12 Pride banners at around $1,500.
Minto council agenda image
Staff also indicated a plan to present a general policy on the use of banner arms at a later date.
While indicating support for the idea, councillor Ron Elliott questioned the five-month period for displaying the banners.
“If there’s other organizations that were coming along in, say, July, and said, “We’d like to put a banner up for the month of July or the month of August, would it be available to that use?” Elliott asked.
“This is why we will be bringing a policy forward,” noted Wick-Graham.
“I think, for the Pride banners and our commitment to inclusivity, all-around inclusivity, from May to September is good. We do own a lot of poles … so there’s lots of room to look at other polls to post banners on.”
Councillor Geoff Gunson asked who would be responsible for storing and looking after the banners after they are taken down.
“There’s 12 banners. So luckily, that’s not going to take up a lot of room,” noted Wick-Graham, adding the municipality would look after storing and maintaining the banners.
A motion to approve the recommendations in the staff report was approved by unanimously by council (councillor Judy Dirksen was absent).
