WEYBURN – City council gave its full support this week to the Weyburn Pride Committee’s request to celebrate National Pride Week with rainbow-painted sidewalks and a flag-raising ceremony.
At City of Weyburn’s regular council meeting on May 12, members voted unanimously in favour of the initiative, which will see rainbow crosswalks painted at the intersection of 3rd Street and Souris Avenue on June 15. A pride flag raising will follow on June 16 in front of Weyburn City Hall.
City Clerk Tina Clay said that both activities meet the city’s policies.
“The City of Weyburn has a flag raising policy that establishes guidelines for raising flags in front of city hall,” she said. “In previous years, city council has also approved crosswalk painting as part of Pride Week activities.”
Coun. Laura Morrissette said she supports the requests.
“As this reflects our vision of a community for all I'm more than happy to make the motion that council approve the Weyburn Pride Committee's request,” she said.
Mayor Jeff Richards gave a brief history of the local Pride saying that Weyburn’s movement began with the efforts of local youth.
The Pride Committee will work with city public works to ensure appropriate traffic safety measures are in place, including the use of barricades at the time of painting. All costs associated with the painting of the crosswalks will be the responsibility of the organization.
The Pride Week events are part of a broader national celebration aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and visibility for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
