Some members of town council help paint the rainbow crosswalk in Battleford. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Painting the town red

Battlefords Pride volunteers gear up for Pride Week by painting rainbow crosswalks

Aug 10, 2021 | 5:31 PM

Battlefords Pride have put a splash of colour on the streets of the Battlefords as they prepare to launch the annual Pride festivities next week.

Pride members and volunteers from the community came together to create two rainbow crosswalks across from the public library in North Battleford on Sunday, and one in front of Town Hall in Battleford Monday.

Battlefords Pride committee president Bobbisue Thompson is impressed with the number of volunteers participating this year.

“Our turnout yesterday [Sunday] when we were painting North Battleford was amazing,” she said. “We had the most people we have ever had. We even have new Canadians here.”

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The Pride flag is now flying at Town Hall in Battleford. (Submitted photo/Kelly Waters)

Volunteers as well as several council members took part in painting the crosswalk in Battleford on Monday.

Councillor Judy Pruden believes it’s important for council to get involved.

“We’re an all-inclusive community, that’s one of our values,” she said. “So I think it’s just something that we should do.”

Battleford Deputy Mayor Doug Laing says this is the fifth year Pride Week has been celebrated in the Battlefords, and a number of years that the Pride crosswalk has brightened up the town.

“It’s good to see lots of participation,” he said. “I believe the Battlefords is always a community that has celebrated our inclusiveness.”

The Pride flag was raised at Town Hall earlier to mark the occasion.

Two rainbow crosswalks were painted in North Battleford on Sunday. (Submitted photos/Kelly Waters)

Unfortunately, one of the rainbow crosswalks in North Battleford was damaged by vehicle-wheel burn marks after the project was completed on the weekend. But Battlefords Pride is not daunted by these actions.

Pride committee member Kelly Waters said the group will find a way to fix it.

Pride Week starts Monday, Aug. 16, with a flag-raising ceremony and cake cutting at 11:30 a.m. at North Battleford City Hall.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow