Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

The City Council In A Canadian Town Voted Down A Rainbow Crosswalk, Citizens Found A Loophole And Painted 16 Of Them
User submission
3.5K
49.6K

The City Council In A Canadian Town Voted Down A Rainbow Crosswalk, Citizens Found A Loophole And Painted 16 Of Them

ADVERTISEMENT

While we can most likely agree that equality (even though our society has never been more equal than nowadays) in its essence is a utopian idea, even if that is actually true, this idea still serves a beautiful purpose of always motivating us to try to do better and to be better ourselves. After all, as the saying goes, you do have to start changing and making yourself better to change the world. Residents Of Chilliwack, British Columbia took this saying quite literally and decided to be the change themselves. Despite the City Council voting down the idea of a rainbow crosswalk earlier this fall, they went the extra mile to find a loophole in the law that allowed them to do that.

RELATED:

    The citizens of Chilliwack, British Columbia painted 16 rainbow crosswalks around the town

    Image credits: Marty van den Bosch

    The city council of the Canadian town of Chilliwack voted down a proposal to install a rainbow crosswalk in September 2019. They argued it would be seen as a political statement and therefore would have a great potential of dividing people. But that didn’t stop the citizens from making it happen it anyway as they managed to find the loophole in this whole plot. Apparently, since the city doesn’t have jurisdiction over private lands, it is possible to do it on privately owned property. People took this opportunity and made 16 rainbow crosswalks in total this way.

    They took it upon themselves to find a loophole in the law that would allow them to do that

    Image credits: Marty van den Bosch

    The first people to take action were Indigenous people, as is often the case with social issues there. They were the first to paint it at a shopping center development on Squiala First Nation land back in August. Since then, two more rainbow crosswalks have been painted by them on Tzeachten First Nation land. Dave Jimmie, president of the Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe, expressed that they are free to demonstrate their support for being an inclusive community. He also added that this is very dear to him personally since he recently lost a friend from the LGBTQ community.

    After the city council voted down a proposal to install a rainbow crosswalk in the city

    Image credits: Louis De Jaeger

    Alison Tedford, a member of the Kwakiutl nation said: “I think as Indigenous people, we have experienced marginalization, and to see collaboration between marginalized communities is positive, as well as to see Indigenous LGBTQ people supported by their own community leadership is powerful.” And therefore adds that she’s delighted but not surprised at all that the Indigenous people were the ones to take action on this issue.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Dissenters argued that the rainbow crosswalk would be seen as a political statement and divide people

    Image credits: Derek Anthony Epp

    Another resident, Marty van den Bosch, shared that he also painted a rainbow crosswalk on his property with his wife. He said that diversity is important to him because “Each and every one of us is different, often in many ways. I do my best to treat people based on their actions, and their words, not on things like their sexual orientation, race or any other attributes they were born as.” He also added that he supports the belief that everyone should be treated with respect, regardless of the differences and that people should only be judged by the way they speak of and treat others.

    Despite that, people felt it was important to make this symbolic statement celebrating diversity

    Image credits: Derek Anthony Epp

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Other cities in British Columbia are jumping in by painting rainbow crosswalks as well but the mastermind behind the Chilliwack’s rainbow crosswalk idea, Amber Price, has come up with an even grander idea. She said she’d love to see Chilliwack become a world record holder for the most rainbow sidewalks. With this dedication, it seems like everything is possible!

    Most of the people loved the idea but there were some that were a bit more hesitant about the idea

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    50Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    Judita K

    Judita K

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

    Read less »
    Judita K

    Judita K

    Author, Community member

    Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    John Louis
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is a shame that people coopt or accuse others of coopting rainbows, dolphins and other symbols. A child can't draw a picture of a tree without drawing commentary from both the left and right. Rainbows rock even if they mean only rainbows.

    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Honestly there is nothing with multiple symbolisms with anything. It's like the Puritans. They only saw sin and vice, even though it often wasn't there.

    Load More Replies...
    Rin O'Stelle
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think celebrating diversity is a wonderful thing to do; however, I don't care much for the sidewalk idea. To me, I see it as a safety concern. My brother has autism and one of the things he refuses to do is walk across anything that can be considered art. Nice mosaic tile? Nope. Chalk art on the ground? Not a chance. Crosswalks any color other than white? He won't do it. I think being mindful of who people are and celebrating it in public spaces is a great step in kindness, but we must be weary not to exclude others while doing it. I think that's a hard thing to accomplish.

    elfin
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So the council thinks that painting a rainbow crosswalk would be divisive, but refusing to do is not? They're that concerned about pissing off the anti-LGBTQ crowd? The painted crosswalk is more noticeable and might be safer. It's definitely prettier.

    Load More Comments
    John Louis
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is a shame that people coopt or accuse others of coopting rainbows, dolphins and other symbols. A child can't draw a picture of a tree without drawing commentary from both the left and right. Rainbows rock even if they mean only rainbows.

    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Honestly there is nothing with multiple symbolisms with anything. It's like the Puritans. They only saw sin and vice, even though it often wasn't there.

    Load More Replies...
    Rin O'Stelle
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think celebrating diversity is a wonderful thing to do; however, I don't care much for the sidewalk idea. To me, I see it as a safety concern. My brother has autism and one of the things he refuses to do is walk across anything that can be considered art. Nice mosaic tile? Nope. Chalk art on the ground? Not a chance. Crosswalks any color other than white? He won't do it. I think being mindful of who people are and celebrating it in public spaces is a great step in kindness, but we must be weary not to exclude others while doing it. I think that's a hard thing to accomplish.

    elfin
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So the council thinks that painting a rainbow crosswalk would be divisive, but refusing to do is not? They're that concerned about pissing off the anti-LGBTQ crowd? The painted crosswalk is more noticeable and might be safer. It's definitely prettier.

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda