ELORA – On June 16 the Elora Business Improvement Area (BIA) raised a Pride flag in Elora’s downtown green space.
The BIA spearheaded the installation and selected the Pride flag “to illustrate that we are an inclusive community,” said BIA chair Maclean Hann.
Of course, June is also Pride month, added Hann, noting it is the first flag to be flown on the Centre Wellington community flagpole at the green space at the northwest corner of Mill and Metcalfe Streets.
Last year the BIA noticed there wasn’t space to fly flags in Elora, and put in a request to council to raise a Pride flag for June.
At the time there wasn’t a policy allowing community flags to be flown. Since then council has created and approved a policy.
There was no ceremony for the June 16 flag raising of the flag due to COVID-19 protocols.
Local groups wanting to raise a flag on the community pole can submit an application at least four weeks prior to when the flag will be raised, and it can’t be up for more than 14 days.
“We believe that all communities should show support,” said Hann, adding that raising a flag in the community is an important way to do that.
Information on the flagpole is available on the Centre Wellington website, which states flags flown should:
- celebrate achievement;
- help increase public awareness of programs and activities; and/or
- acknowledge an organization that has achieved national or international distinction or made a significant contribution to the community or an organization that has helped to enhance the township in a positive manner in accordance with the municipal flag policy.
