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Something new and colourful has appeared on the downtown streets of Kelowna Thursday morning, just ahead of Okanagan Pride week.
Four rainbow crosswalks were proudly on display at the intersection of Lawrence and Pandosy in the heart of downtown. The installation comes just two days before Pride Week kicks off in the Okanagan and Kelowna.
According to Wilbur Turner with the Okanagan Pride Society, the new crosswalks are two years in the making. The colourful crosswalks have been popping up in cities all over B.C. and Turner hopes the community embraces them.
Photo Credit: Okanagan Pride Society
“I expect that the majority of people will support this. However, as has been the case in other cities, there are likely to be a few people who will find reasons to dislike it,” said Turner. “For those who express their support, we as a community are incredibly grateful. For those who express their intolerance, count yourself fortunate, that you have not had to struggle to live with dignity and respect because of who you are.”
The rainbow colours are a symbol of the LGBTQ community taking pride in who they are, first appearing in 1978 when San Francisco flag designer Gilbert Baker made the first rainbow flag. Each colour was given a meaning: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for the human spirit.
According to the City of Kelowna, the new pedestrian crosswalks have been included as the finishing touch to the street and utility upgrades in the Lawrence Avenue and Pandosy Street area of downtown Kelowna.
"The City of Kelowna encourages an accepting and welcoming community and incorporated the rainbow crosswalks to visually demonstrate its spirit of inclusivity," said the city in a statement.
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