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More rainbow crosswalks coming to Nanaimo

City will touch up colourful crosswalks at Nanaimo’s Commercial and Bastion street intersections
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Rick Meyers, Nanaimo Pride Society president, and Lauren Semple, vice-president, called on council to touch up rainbow-coloured crosswalks and paint two more at a meeting earlier this year. (News Bulletin file)

Pride Week paraders will march through a rainbow-coloured intersection in Nanaimo this June.

City politicians have agreed to liven up the intersection of Bastion and Commercial streets by painting two new rainbow crosswalks and touching up last year’s additions.

The work will happen in time for Pride Week 2017 and Nanaimo Pride Society’s 20th anniversary.

Lauren Semple, vice-president of the society, said there was lots of excitement about the decision and pride in the city and council from the rest of the board.

“We’re really happy, we’re ecstatic to see that corner kind of be completed and we’ll have four beautiful rainbow crosswalks there which can be touched up and kept nice and vibrant in the future and it’ll be done in time for pride week, which is fantastic,” she said.

In early April, Nanaimo Pride Society called for council to brush up existing rainbow crossings and create two more to drive home the community’s resilience to be inclusive. The crosswalks were vandalized last year and allies unbeknownst to Semple and pride society president Rick Meyers, got together and chalked the other two crossings as a sign of solidarity. It’s that action that was the spirit and idea of getting the other crosswalks painted, Semple previously told the News Bulletin.

Coun. Diane Brennan made the motion Monday for the touch ups and to have the city set up and remove barricades and signage for pride parade street closures. Coun. Gord Fuller tagged on the new rainbow crossings.

Coun. Bill Yoachim said he’s proud and honored to be part of a council that endorses such events.

“I am really proud to go forward on this and we do find monies last minute for other things,” he said.

Approximate costs are $1,800 to touch up existing crosswalks, $2,500 for two new ones and the barricades and signage is $5,000, according to city staff.

Council also approved downtown event grants on Monday, including $4,330 for Pride Week. The event happens June 9-17 with activities like a flag raising at city hall, the parade and festival and youth dance.

“It’s all coming together and we’re really excited to celebrate with Nanaimo,” said Semple, adding it’ll be the biggest celebration Nanaimo has seen.

For a full listing of events or to volunteer visit www.nanaimopride.org.