'Means the world': PFLAG pleased Aurora approves rainbow crosswalk

Anonymous donor to cover $10,000 of $12,600 price tag, mayor says

Yorkregion.com
July 17, 2020
Lisa Queen

The president of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) York Region is applauding a plan that will see a historic rainbow crosswalk installed at Aurora’s main downtown intersection.

“It’s worth it because signs of visibility mean the world. Even if it means the world to just one person, that could be life-changing to them,” Tristan Coolman told the Aurora Banner after council approved the crosswalk on the southside of the intersection at Yonge and Wellington streets at the July 14 council meeting.

“It’s no secret that suburban areas, there’s a perception they aren’t friendly to marginalized groups, in particular the LGBTQ community. When you have something like that (crosswalk) from a town like Aurora, it makes people take notice. It shows that you have LGBTQ members in your community everywhere, it’s not just a city thing, and they deserve to be supported no matter where they live.”

The rainbow crosswalk will be York Region’s first, Coolman said.

Surprisingly, Mayor Tom Mrakas posted on his Facebook page on July 15 that $10,000 of the $12,600 cost will be covered by an anonymous donor.

The donor wasn’t mentioned during the debate over the price tag at the meeting the night before.

Already disappointed the cost wasn’t included in Mrakas’s motion, Coun. John Gallo said he opposes paying for the crosswalk during difficult economic times.

“I think the idea is great, I think the timing sucks,” he said.

“No matter how noble the cause is, spending taxpayer money today doesn’t sit well with me.”

Coun. Wendy Gaertner agreed, even as Allan Downey, the town’s director of operational services, said staff would look to shift funds from other programs to cover the cost rather than hit taxpayers directly.

While Coun. Rachel Gilliland voted for the crosswalk, she worried about spending money on it now when regional government plans to restructure the intersection with turn lanes in 2022.

Downey said construction shouldn’t disrupt the crosswalk.

Mrakas said the project is worth an investment.

“Sometimes you do things because it is the right thing to do,” he said.

Coun. Michael Thompson argued the crosswalk supports council’s recent adoption of an inclusion charter, which welcomes and promotes diversity.

Meanwhile, councillors aren’t opposed to spending $5,000 on a program to create murals on Yonge, he said.

Councillors Harold Kim and Sandra Humfryes also voted in favour of the crosswalk.

“It’s so important right now to give hope and love to our town,” Humfryes said.