By James Wood

Medicine Hat Pride seeking downtown rainbow crosswalk

Sep 25, 2017 | 12:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, ALTA- Downtown Medicine Hat could be getting a splash of colour in the near future.

According to Medicine Hat Pride president Rosie Joa, the wheels are turning for a rainbow crosswalk in Medicine Hat. Joa first mentioned the idea during the annual “Pride in the Park” event, marking the end of Pride Week festivities in the Gas City earlier in September.

Reached on Monday Joa said the municipal government has been contacted about the proposal, and is assisting Medicine Hat Pride in taking the steps to make the crosswalk happen.

“We started thinking about the crosswalk quite a while ago, it’s just we haven’t had time to progress to this point,” said Joa.

Medicine Hat Public Library Comic Con taking place May 4

A few moments ago

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

26m ago

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

23h ago

“We have Lethbridge already, and Calgary, and Toronto. All the big cities have it already. I think it’s the time that Medicine Hat actually had one to show their pride for the BLGTQ+ community, for us.”

Joa said she reached out two weeks ago, and has been in discussion with the Municipal Works department. She indicated that City Hall had been “absolutely wonderful” on the matter. She also said she hoped the eventual location of the decoration would be downtown, along 1 Street Southeast or close to the south entrance of the Finley Bridge.

“Our plan is to put it near City Hall, because we have Pride in the Park near Memorial Park every year, so we’re hoping it’ll be downtown,” said Joa.

“I think it’s the best spot to have it, especially by City Hall, because it shows the support the city has for the Medicine Hat Pride Association, and all the people in the BLGTQ+ community.”

Joa also touched on the divisive response her initial announcement had brought, which played out in a furor on local social media. Some of the comments mentioned the possibility of tire burnouts and vandalism to the walk, if it was made.

While Joa was “taken aback” and disappointed with the comments from Hatters who disagreed with the proposal, she was happy with others who came to the defence of the idea.

“I was very proud of some of the people that stood up and said something against it (the backlash).

“It was better to see the people that stood up, and they weren’t doing it with hatred, they were doing it with love in their heart. That was amazing.”

While she hoped for a change in reactions in the future, Joa still plans to go ahead with the crosswalk.

“I definitely want to do this,” said Joa.

“We definitely need this in the community, and the board really wants to do this. We need to do this, just to show that we’re here, and we are the voice of the BLGTQ+ community, and we’re not going to stop for them. We’re going to do everything in my power to show that we’re here for them.”

The city says the request for the crosswalk has been received, and has been forwarded to municipal works to determine the next steps in the process. the city adds it hopes to have an answer within two weeks.