A number of Battleford councillors and Mayor Ames Leslie helped paint the Pride rainbow crosswalk outside Town Hall Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Community support

Battlefords Pride planning activities, rainbow crosswalks

Aug 11, 2020 | 2:35 PM

The Town of Battleford is looking more colourful now that Battlefords Pride has created a new rainbow crosswalk across from town hall.

Mayor Ames Leslie along with several councillors was among the volunteers helping with the paint job.

“I believe it’s the third year we’ve been doing this,” he said. “It still makes me happy every time this group gets together to add a little bit of colour and awareness to the community. Every year more and more councillors come out to support it.”

The Pride organization plans to paint two crosswalks in North Battleford – one rainbow, and one in the Transgender Pride colours of blue, pink and white.

President Bobbisue Thompson said it’s good to see the support.

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“I think it’s awesome because transgender people have become one of the most marginalized groups in the LGBT community at this moment, simply because we’re targeted and we’re very visible,” Thompson said.

Pride Week runs Aug. 19 to 26 this year, starting with a flag raising ceremony at city hall. A flag raising in Battleford is also planned.

Battlefords Pride is looking to have its annual Pride Day celebration this year on Saturday, August 22.

Thompson said the organization will follow all the province’s COVID-19 requirements.

They hope to have some activities in North Battleford’s Central Park during the day, with attendance limited to 30 people based on the regulations in place.

“We are looking at the possibility of music,” Thompson said. “We still have the rules to follow. It’s going to be a shorter day.”

The organization also plans to have a Pride Walk, while social-distancing between households, that will start from outside the front of the North Battleford Library at 2 p.m. Masks will be recommended.

Pride is sponsoring two screenings of the film Bohemian Rhapsody at the Capitol Annex Theatre on Aug. 17 and 20, with admission by donation.

A ticketed, aged 19-plus, Drag Show is planned for she-NANIGANS performance theatre on Aug. 26, with limited attendance permitted for the venue.

Thompson said details of Pride activities are flexible depending on the current COVID-19 guidelines in place.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @OCoureurDesBois