Some crosswalks in Burnaby are starting to look a little brighter, as crews paint rainbows in celebration of LGBTQ pride.
The City of Burnaby has commissioned four new rainbow crosswalks in the city and a touch-up of an existing one.
The first rainbow was painted last year on Jubilee Avenue between Nelson Avenue and Imperial Street ahead of the city’s first-ever Pride Street Party there. The colourful paint has since faded, and the city plans to add a new coat before the event’s second instalment on Aug. 10.
In May, Coun. Dan Johnston suggested the city paint four new rainbow crosswalks – one in each of the city’s town centres – in more prominent intersections.
“I just think that this is 2019 and that we don't need to hide the issue,” Johnston said at the time. “LGBT people should be part of our community, and it's time that we encourage them to be part of our community.”
City staff have since identified the four spots: Edmonds Street at Humphries Avenue, near Edmonds Community Centre; Cameron Street at Erickson Drive, near Cameron Community Centre; Willingdon Avenue at Albert Street, near Confederation Centre, near McGill Library and Eileen Dailly Pool; and Kingsborough Street at McKay Avenue close to the Bob Prittie Library.
“The locations were selected based on their high community profile close to civic facilities where higher pedestrian activity can be anticipated,” a staff report states. “The locations help to create pedestrian gateways to community services which are inclusive and accessible and reflect the City’s core values.”
The city expects the first three crosswalks to be complete by early August, but the Kingsborough installation will be delayed until 2020 or 2021 due to ongoing road work in the area.
The four new crosswalks and touch-up of the existing one will cost an estimated $43,000 from the city’s gaming reserves, according to staff.
