Times Chronicle Staff
Just be you.
That’s what a group of Oliver students is saying as it advocates for a rainbow crosswalk in front of Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School.
The “Just Be You Club” is asking town council to help establish a “pride” crossing on the existing raised crosswalk on Park Drive.
Teacher Leanne Spaurel commended one student for writing a “beautiful” letter explaining why the school community needs this crosswalk.
The Grade 7 student says their pride-based club represents the local 2SLGBTQ+ community, noting there are a couple of pride families in this group. The student points out that a rainbow crosswalk in front of the school would make people in the community feel supported and loved. “It could also be used as a sign of hope to be one community.”
The student says not everyone who identifies as 2SLGBTQ+ is supported at home, therefore, a pride crosswalk would act as a sign of inclusion.
The student acknowledges that not all families support the pride community, so a rainbow crosswalk could be a way to address people’s struggles and “show them they are not alone.”
The club member says this crosswalk would foster good emotions as students arrive at and leave school for the day.
“If you would kindly try to make this wish of our Just Be You Club come true, it would mean a lot to a lot of people here at our school . . . and even change the way people think about certain things.”
Rochelle Lougheed, Corporate Officer for the town, recommended that staff proceed with the installation of the rainbow crosswalk for a cost of $4,000.
Council supported the request in principle but asked staff for more information on budgeting to complete the project.
In other news, council voted in favor of proclaiming May 17 as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Town staff were also directed to raise the pride flag at Town Hall on that day.
