HARRISTON – With the recent installation of a rainbow pedestrian crossover, an intersection in Harriston just got a lot more colourful.
“It feels so lovely to have such a warm and welcoming symbol as you’re coming into town,” said Minto Pride representative Rosie Krul.
“It’s not just the residents who can see that and feel like this town is somewhere that they belong and that their families belong, but it’s also people driving through can see at a glance, this is the kind of town that Harriston is, and these are the kinds of people that live in this community.”
The town approved the pedestrian crossover in March, with a requirement that the cost of the paint for the colour palette, which came in at $7,000, is to be funded by the Pride committee.
Half of that cost, Krul explained, was covered by a donation from former town CAO Derek Thompson before the committee began fundraising.
The remaining funds came through donations after the committees’ Pride decorations were vandalized in June.
The crosswalk, installed last week, includes the traditional red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple and then it also includes the progress flag colours – blue, pink, white, black and brown to support trans and non-binary individuals and people of colour.
“I think representation is important no matter the size of the town, but in small towns it has been maybe a misunderstanding or misconception that there aren’t as many queer people or LGBTQ people living there, and that’s definitely not the case,” Krul explained.
“And I think when there aren’t these visual symbols of inclusivity, it can maybe feel a little isolating in a small town when there isn’t a large community present.”
Krul hopes the crosswalk will set precedent for other municipalities in the county that may be considering something similar.
From a practical standpoint, having an example of what the costs look like, a company that can do the work, and a community that successfully fundraised for it, can help set the stage for other municipalities, she explained.
“I think those things just from a practical standpoint will hopefully remove some barriers to having more crosswalks across Wellington County and not just in Minto,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to the town, which she said has been very supportive of the committee.
Krul’s hope for the crosswalk is also that it makes people feel more welcome.
“It’s all about celebration and inclusivity for all ends of the [2SLGBTQIA+] community,” she explained, adding it’s also about acknowledging the more marginalized communities that maybe haven’t been recognized in the past as being involved in the movement.
“And how even today, trans rights are often under attack,” she said.
“I’d say people of colour also face a lot more discrimination compared to their white counterparts in the queer community.”
She added, “and having them on equal visual footing in something as simple as a representation of a flag in this crosswalk, I think is really important.”
