Times Chronicle Staff
Rainbow crosswalks in rural areas could be the next project of the South Okanagan Similkameen Pride Society.
President Melisa Edgerly gave a presentation to the regional district on May 19 to give the board an update on the group’s activities, including events in June during Pride Month. The kick-off event is on Saturday, June 4 at the Dream Café in Penticton.
She said they are requesting letters from local governments to publicly acknowledge Pride Month and to celebrate by hanging flags or affixing stickers.
Director Rob Obirek said human rights and civil rights are very important today, noting they are guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While many municipalities have established rainbow crosswalks, local governments don’t have control over rural roads which are the responsibility of the province.
Director Doug Holmes asked if the Society has reached out to the province to install rainbow crosswalks in electoral (rural) areas.
Edgerly said she hasn’t done that yet but would pursue it.
Director Karla Kozakevich said establishing crosswalks in rural areas is very challenging.
“I spent years to get the province to allow white lines for kids to cross, and two traffic studies later the answer was no.”
But she expressed her hope that the Society will make this happen.
Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff said they have rainbow crosswalks at both the elementary and high school. She noted the schools did it on their own; they didn’t have to check with the Town first.
