approval was given to the Girl Guides group to paint a downtown intersection in rainbow colours on a one-year trial basis.
The district commissioner for the Girl Guides Rainbow District, Abby Kradovill, explained that Girl Guides of Canada has a commitment to inclusion in their culture, programming and practices to support girls and women, to ensure they feel safe, respected, supported and inspired to reach their potential.
Representatives of Pathfinders and Guides spoke to council, noting that the Weyburn group has been working on a community service project to improve the streets of Weyburn, and proposed to paint the intersection of Third Street and Coteau Avenue in rainbow colours to make them bright and safe for all city residents.
“We would really like to do this because we want all diverse groups to feel safe and welcome,” said Guide member Kadyn VanAlstyne, who noted the group has been working with the youth council on this proposal, and they helped the girls to bring the proposal forward.
They sent letters to the owners of properties at the intersection, with letters of support from the City and the Weyburn Credit Union. The other two corners have Grace United Church and the old City Hall building, owned by Greaves Holdings, and the girls are hopeful of a positive response from them.
Guide member Jillian Forseth noted that Weyburn hosted its first Pride Week event in 2016, and said, “Rather than celebrating gender and sexual diversity for just one week, we would like to show our support all year long by painting the crosswalks rainbow.”
The Guides will supply the paint and commit to maintaining the crosswalks every year as part of their community cleanup program.
Youth council member Lincoln Alexander noted this had been brought up at their meeting and they voted in favour of a one-year trial basis for the program.
“It was good to see our youth council supporting this,” said Mayor Roy.
Coun. Jeff Richards added his support, giving kudos to the youth council for their work on this with the Girl Guides.
Later in the meeting, it was noted the youth council will hold an open house for their council meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the council chambers. Members of the public are invited to come and hear the youth council hold their discussions, and applications are open for youths to apply to be on the council for the next school year.
