BARRHEAD - The Town of Barrhead will draft a bylaw prohibiting Pride rainbow flags, crosswalks, and other "decorative crosswalks" on municipal property after more than 10 per cent of the town's population signed a petition demanding they do so.
Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc told councillors and a public gallery of over 20 people during a special Sept. 3 council meeting following the announcement that Barrhead Neutrality had successfully collected the number of signatures needed to trigger the action.
Town of Barrhead council has until Friday, Oct. 4, to either enact a bylaw in line with the wording of the petition, or give first reading to a draft bylaw and then schedule a public referendum within 90 days of the draft bylaw's first reading.
Council passed the CAO's report as information and instructed administration to draft the bylaw.
LeBlanc stated the municipality received the petition from Barrhead Neutrality organizers on July 26.
Barrhead Neutrality, following the example of a similar group in Westlock, launched the petition in response to the Town of Barrhead's Decorative Crosswalk Policy, which council approved on May 14.
The policy, patterned after a similar document drafted by the City of Edmonton, sets the criteria that community groups must meet to get the municipality's approval to paint a crosswalk.
LeBlanc said that according to the Alberta Municipal Government Act, 10 per cent of the town's population needed to sign the petition. Alberta Municipal Affairs listed the town's 2023 population at 4,320, meaning the petition needed 432 signatures.
The Barrhead Neutrality petition had 851 signatures, 712 of which were considered valid.
The public information package stated that to be considered valid under the MGA, each petitioner's petition and signature must include the printed surname and given name or initials, the street address or legal land description of where they lived, and their telephone or e-mail address.
Council did not comment, except for Mayor Dave McKenzie, who reiterated the process and said anyone with questions should talk to a councillor or the CAO.
After the meeting, which lasted under five minutes, the pro and anti-neutrality bylaw supporters gathered on the sidewalk outside the council chambers.
Ard Doornboss, one of the founders of Barrhead Neutrality, was surprised that "there wasn't more excitement" but said he was pleased the CAO validated the petition.
"It will be interesting to see what happens after 30 days. Will they turn the wording of the petition into the bylaw or not," he said.
The petition stated that crosswalks should only be painted in the standard white striped pattern between two parallel lines; only national, provincial, and municipal flags should be flown at municipal facilities or flagpoles; that there should be no decorations on municipal crosswalks or displaying of flags supporting political, social, or religious movements or commercial entities; and that there would be no grandfathering of existing crosswalks or flags that contravene the bylaw.
Doornboss is also curious about whether councillors will adopt the bylaw or hold a referendum.
The Town of Westlock held a vote on a similar bylaw this past February after receiving a petition in October 2023. Voters narrowly approved the bylaw by a margin of 663 to 639.
Criss Schaffrick and Des Hughes, part of the Barrhead organizers who spearheaded the effort for the Disability Pride crosswalk in July, said they were disappointed with the Barrhead Neutrality petition.
The purpose of the crosswalk was to raise awareness about issues that impact people with disabilities, foster inclusivity, advocate for a more equitable society, and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and rights of individuals with disabilities.
"One of the things that is important for me is to have diversity, and there are many ways to recognize the diversity we have in our community," Hughes said, adding that the two Pride crosswalks on Main Street are examples. "And the more diverse our community is, the better we are."
Schaffrick agreed.
"[The Disability Pride crosswalk] here in Barrhead was the first one in Canada, and we have people protesting against it," she said. "I find it really sad."
Barrhead OutProud, a member and lead organizer of the community's Pride crosswalk initiative for the last three years, Caitlin Clark, said the petition is part of the democratic process.
"I look forward to hearing the debate when the bylaw gets drafted and the councillors decide to proceed with the three readings or to send it to a town-wide vote. I think that is more important to me," she said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
