City scrambles to bring Pride crosswalks to Brampton before end of June

Brampton | Caledon | Latest News |

Published June 15, 2023 at 9:46 am

Brampton is working to intall two Pride crosswlaks like the one seen here before the end of June, 2023.

It may be too late for the City to show its support for Brampton’s LGBTQIA2S+ communities with crosswalks for Pride month this year, but that hasn’t stopped council from trying to play catch-up.

Coun. Rowena Santos raised the issue last week asking city staff if there was time to install Pride crosswalks in Brampton before the end of June, which is also Pride Month.

The idea had seen support from council back in 2022 but no direction was ever given to City staff, meaning the project sat in limbo despite funding from the Region of Peel setting aside every year for Pride and Trans flag crosswalks in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon.

A report to council on Wednesday said there’s little time to install Pride crosswalks this year but staff have identified two locations and will try and have the crosswalks decorated with a Pride design before the end of June. Failing that, the City will have the crosswalks decorated annually beginning in 2024.

The crosswalks in question will be at the west leg of the intersection at George St. South and Wellington St. West, and where the Chinguacousy Trail crosses the Chinguacousy Park driveway.

Many municipalities install temporary artwork or crosswalks to celebrate Pride, and in 2019, the Region of Peel set up annual funding of up to $25,000 for road decal Pride crosswalks for Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon.

Staff said Brampton is eligible for funding up to $8,333 from the Region to cover a portion of the estimated $32,000, cost of the crosswalks, depending on paint and material costs.

While the rainbow and colourful crosswalks may not be up in time for Pride month this year, the City has shown support for Brampton’s LGBTQIA2S+ communities in other ways like the annual Pride celebrations which took place earlier this month and the installation of rainbow benches in Garden Square, and Pride flag decals in Vivian Lane.

The report said Brampton is looking for more opportunities to work with organizations to add more visible demonstrations of Pride as symbols of support.

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