Friday June 21, 2024 | METCHOSIN, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
It’s the second year in a row that the District of Metchosin has raised the Pride Flag outside their municipal hall.
“It’s a reminder,” says Mayor Marie-Térèse Little, telling Island Social Trends that this symbolic gesture would not have occurred under the previous mayor and council.
Attending on this warm sunny summer day outdoors — and then later indoors for cake and coffee — were three members of council (Shelly Donaldson, Shari Epp and Jay Shukin) as well as Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop and some firefighters, and a representative from West Shore RCMP.
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait (who is also the NDP federal candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke) also attended, as did Colwood Councillor David Grove, and about 40 others including district staff and members of the local community.
Aligning with other municipalities in BC was a key point for Mayor Little, as to raising the flag.
Pride 2024 celebrates how “our 2SLGBTQIA+ colleagues, friends, family members, neighbours make our District and province a better place to live”.
“This is our commitment towards inclusiveness, safety and tolerance. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness and to support each other towards a transformative change,” said Little in her remarks outdoors today.
Mayor Little noted there are online and in-person threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in BC and around the world.
“It’s important for us to publicly denounced these incidents and threats and to oppose the rise in violence and discrimination,” said Mayor Little.
Then she asked for the firefighters to assist her in raising the flag.
The District of Metchosin will also take part in the Victoria Pride Parade on Sunday July 7, as further reinforcement for Metchosin “standing strong for a safe place for all our community members”.
===== RELATED:
Metchosin raising Pride flag at municipal hall (June 28, 2023)
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