The City Council In A Canadian Town Voted Down A Rainbow Crosswalk, Citizens Found A Loophole And Painted 16 Of Them
While we can most likely agree that equality (even though our society has never been more equal than nowadays) in its essence is a utopian idea, even if that is actually true, this idea still serves a beautiful purpose of always motivating us to try to do better and to be better ourselves. After all, as the saying goes, you do have to start changing and making yourself better to change the world. Residents Of Chilliwack, British Columbia took this saying quite literally and decided to be the change themselves. Despite the City Council voting down the idea of a rainbow crosswalk earlier this fall, they went the extra mile to find a loophole in the law that allowed them to do that.
The citizens of Chilliwack, British Columbia painted 16 rainbow crosswalks around the town
Image credits: Marty van den Bosch
The city council of the Canadian town of Chilliwack voted down a proposal to install a rainbow crosswalk in September 2019. They argued it would be seen as a political statement and therefore would have a great potential of dividing people. But that didn’t stop the citizens from making it happen it anyway as they managed to find the loophole in this whole plot. Apparently, since the city doesn’t have jurisdiction over private lands, it is possible to do it on privately owned property. People took this opportunity and made 16 rainbow crosswalks in total this way.
They took it upon themselves to find a loophole in the law that would allow them to do that
Image credits: Marty van den Bosch
The first people to take action were Indigenous people, as is often the case with social issues there. They were the first to paint it at a shopping center development on Squiala First Nation land back in August. Since then, two more rainbow crosswalks have been painted by them on Tzeachten First Nation land. Dave Jimmie, president of the Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe, expressed that they are free to demonstrate their support for being an inclusive community. He also added that this is very dear to him personally since he recently lost a friend from the LGBTQ community.
After the city council voted down a proposal to install a rainbow crosswalk in the city
Image credits: Louis De Jaeger
Alison Tedford, a member of the Kwakiutl nation said: “I think as Indigenous people, we have experienced marginalization, and to see collaboration between marginalized communities is positive, as well as to see Indigenous LGBTQ people supported by their own community leadership is powerful.” And therefore adds that she’s delighted but not surprised at all that the Indigenous people were the ones to take action on this issue.
Dissenters argued that the rainbow crosswalk would be seen as a political statement and divide people
Image credits: Derek Anthony Epp
Another resident, Marty van den Bosch, shared that he also painted a rainbow crosswalk on his property with his wife. He said that diversity is important to him because “Each and every one of us is different, often in many ways. I do my best to treat people based on their actions, and their words, not on things like their sexual orientation, race or any other attributes they were born as.” He also added that he supports the belief that everyone should be treated with respect, regardless of the differences and that people should only be judged by the way they speak of and treat others.
Despite that, people felt it was important to make this symbolic statement celebrating diversity
Image credits: Derek Anthony Epp
Other cities in British Columbia are jumping in by painting rainbow crosswalks as well but the mastermind behind the Chilliwack’s rainbow crosswalk idea, Amber Price, has come up with an even grander idea. She said she’d love to see Chilliwack become a world record holder for the most rainbow sidewalks. With this dedication, it seems like everything is possible!
Most of the people loved the idea but there were some that were a bit more hesitant about the idea
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Share on FacebookIt is a shame that people coopt or accuse others of coopting rainbows, dolphins and other symbols. A child can't draw a picture of a tree without drawing commentary from both the left and right. Rainbows rock even if they mean only rainbows.
Honestly there is nothing with multiple symbolisms with anything. It's like the Puritans. They only saw sin and vice, even though it often wasn't there.
Load More Replies...I think celebrating diversity is a wonderful thing to do; however, I don't care much for the sidewalk idea. To me, I see it as a safety concern. My brother has autism and one of the things he refuses to do is walk across anything that can be considered art. Nice mosaic tile? Nope. Chalk art on the ground? Not a chance. Crosswalks any color other than white? He won't do it. I think being mindful of who people are and celebrating it in public spaces is a great step in kindness, but we must be weary not to exclude others while doing it. I think that's a hard thing to accomplish.
Very fascinating informations. Thank you for that.
Load More Replies...In reality, this can be dangerous. Crosswalks are painted a certain way all over the world to make sure people know this is where you walk and for drivers to know "you stop before these" and "people walk across here."
You're right. That's probably one of the reasons the city council voted it down. I imagine a rainbow crosswalk would be, lets say, for a colorblind driver harder to see so he would need more time to react to it. So the citizens decided to paint them on private properties instead
Load More Replies...Sorry, but I've worked at a city before and saw such nonsense by pandlers like this. Government is supposed to support EVERYONE, not just cater to a specific group. That's why a lot of other diverse groups (such as certain faiths and cultures) are not represented by the public-funded dollars or businesses anymore and it's neutral so it applies to EVERYONE. Second, crosswalks and road signs, etc. are designed to be accessible for everyone to view clearly (including those with visual impairments) to ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. Many of those specific colours do not meet the required contrast ratio to meet accessibility and road laws. But yes, keep pandling and looking at pretty colours while endangering others and then you'll blame someone else when an accident happens. It's sad that anyone speaking honestly here gets downvoted.
You sound like a straight white Christian male that can't stand he concept of marginalized minorities that historically have been denied human rights, wrongfully imprisoned, killed and still face adversity getting more representation than you
Load More Replies...Its nice but this is not best idea. Crosswalk is very clear safety symbol for drivers that they must sharpen attention. it works, in particular, subconsciously.
Long Before the lbgt group started to use rainbow flags there was and still is “The Rainbow People “ ... if they don’t mind the gays using their symbol why should the gays mind anyone else using it?
I love it. Islands of color, beauty and cheerfulness in the sea of various shades of gray (asphalt, concrete etc.) of the city. I feel sorry that colorblind people living or traveling there can't see it the same way other people do (at least not without help, like with special glasses or something similar)
These sidewalks are beautiful and I don't see how anyone could be offended by them. Even if you don't support the LGBTQ community, you can support beauty and color.
Beautiful! Regardless of the LGBTQ connection, the crosswalks are beautiful and they are bring much more attention to places where people walk across streets. Very nice.
Every thing else aside it’s just rainbows. Like they appear naturally. Nature trying to turn us all gay?! Are rainbows gay?! Having water refractive gay rubbing with other rainbows?!
It is a shame that people coopt or accuse others of coopting rainbows, dolphins and other symbols. A child can't draw a picture of a tree without drawing commentary from both the left and right. Rainbows rock even if they mean only rainbows.
Honestly there is nothing with multiple symbolisms with anything. It's like the Puritans. They only saw sin and vice, even though it often wasn't there.
Load More Replies...I think celebrating diversity is a wonderful thing to do; however, I don't care much for the sidewalk idea. To me, I see it as a safety concern. My brother has autism and one of the things he refuses to do is walk across anything that can be considered art. Nice mosaic tile? Nope. Chalk art on the ground? Not a chance. Crosswalks any color other than white? He won't do it. I think being mindful of who people are and celebrating it in public spaces is a great step in kindness, but we must be weary not to exclude others while doing it. I think that's a hard thing to accomplish.
Very fascinating informations. Thank you for that.
Load More Replies...In reality, this can be dangerous. Crosswalks are painted a certain way all over the world to make sure people know this is where you walk and for drivers to know "you stop before these" and "people walk across here."
You're right. That's probably one of the reasons the city council voted it down. I imagine a rainbow crosswalk would be, lets say, for a colorblind driver harder to see so he would need more time to react to it. So the citizens decided to paint them on private properties instead
Load More Replies...Sorry, but I've worked at a city before and saw such nonsense by pandlers like this. Government is supposed to support EVERYONE, not just cater to a specific group. That's why a lot of other diverse groups (such as certain faiths and cultures) are not represented by the public-funded dollars or businesses anymore and it's neutral so it applies to EVERYONE. Second, crosswalks and road signs, etc. are designed to be accessible for everyone to view clearly (including those with visual impairments) to ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. Many of those specific colours do not meet the required contrast ratio to meet accessibility and road laws. But yes, keep pandling and looking at pretty colours while endangering others and then you'll blame someone else when an accident happens. It's sad that anyone speaking honestly here gets downvoted.
You sound like a straight white Christian male that can't stand he concept of marginalized minorities that historically have been denied human rights, wrongfully imprisoned, killed and still face adversity getting more representation than you
Load More Replies...Its nice but this is not best idea. Crosswalk is very clear safety symbol for drivers that they must sharpen attention. it works, in particular, subconsciously.
Long Before the lbgt group started to use rainbow flags there was and still is “The Rainbow People “ ... if they don’t mind the gays using their symbol why should the gays mind anyone else using it?
I love it. Islands of color, beauty and cheerfulness in the sea of various shades of gray (asphalt, concrete etc.) of the city. I feel sorry that colorblind people living or traveling there can't see it the same way other people do (at least not without help, like with special glasses or something similar)
These sidewalks are beautiful and I don't see how anyone could be offended by them. Even if you don't support the LGBTQ community, you can support beauty and color.
Beautiful! Regardless of the LGBTQ connection, the crosswalks are beautiful and they are bring much more attention to places where people walk across streets. Very nice.
Every thing else aside it’s just rainbows. Like they appear naturally. Nature trying to turn us all gay?! Are rainbows gay?! Having water refractive gay rubbing with other rainbows?!
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