School District 53 staff recently completed painting a new rainbow crosswalk at Osoyoos Secondary School. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Osoyoos Secondary School students returning to school this fall will notice an added splash of colour in the school’s parking lot.

A new rainbow crosswalk, advocated for by students, was installed at the school’s front entrance over the summer.

While many communities have rainbow crosswalks on municipal roads, OSS’ is on School District 53 property and was funded and completed by the district, superintendent Bev Young said.

“Rainbow crosswalks are common in cities and municipalities across the province to show support and acceptance of the LGBTQ community living in these towns and cities,” she said.

“The students at OSS advocated for the crosswalk as a symbol of inclusion and to show they are welcoming of diversity.”

The idea was introduced by students that participated in weekly SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) meetings, vice principal Brad Burns said.

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“As a number of other schools around the province were painting rainbow sidewalks to highlight and represent inclusion, the idea was brought to school administration who fully supported the idea.”

The district’s director of learning and inquiry and facilities manager were consulted, and both were very supportive of the crosswalk, Burns said.

“As our parking lot was being resurfaced and painted over the summer break, it was perfect timing to have the project completed.”

School trustee Brenda Dorosz praised the students, as well as the school and district, for the new crosswalk.

“I’m thrilled to see this in our community,” she said. “It’s a visual reminder of inclusion for all: everyone is accepted, everyone is treated equally.”

“Rainbow sidewalks are symbolic for showing inclusion and the welcoming of diversity,” school board chair Rob Zandee added.

“On behalf of the board, I am quite proud of the students of OSS for initiating this project along with their school counselor and administration.”