Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee council has voted to review its proclamation and flag raising policy.
The decision came in the wake of public criticism directed at the current policy-drafted last year- which dictates all flags flown in support of community groups as part of a proclamation be raised at the North Fred Lifestyle Centre. Much debate has been had on the issue on social media in the wake of June’s Pride Month, with many residents feeling the pride flag should have been raised in a location that would be seen by more people.
Chris Beauchesne brought the matter forward as a deputation during council’s June 8 meeting, which was held virtually and streamed on the town’s YouTube channel. Beauchesne, who successfully encouraged council to recognize Pride Month for the first time in 2019, said he was back to speak before council to advocate the pride flag be flown in a more visible and accessible location.
“Location at North Fred hall is neither visible, accessible or inclusive for everyone,” Beauchesne told council. “The hope is to foster a community of support and acceptance, the location is a visible representation of support. Pride colours and the pride flag represent diversity and love and support. It’s no secret that today’s youth struggle with mental health and addictions far more than any previous generation. The LGBTQ+ community is a higher risk community for mental health and addiction problems. The LGBTQ+ is at a higher risk because of their unfair treatment and lack of support they experience in their every day lives just for being true to who they truly are. Compounded with COVID-19, our youth have been out of school for months, some in an unfortunate circumstance with no outlet. The flag could be that one symbol of support that starts conversation that helps these children find positive outlets.”
Speaking on behalf of the Greater Napanee Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Beauchesne suggested flagpoles at Springside Park, the Strathcona Paper Centre, lampposts at town hall or even the installation of flagpoles at town hall would all make for a more visible location to fly the pride rainbow flag.
“Studies as recent as 2020 show that when communities show support for their members autonomy to express their identities overall psychological well being is higher,” he added.
He also noted the Gender and Sexuality Alliance was willing to help fundraise to cover the costs of adding a flag pole to the Centre Street side of town hall.
Deputy Mayor Max Kaiser suggested staff seek dialogue with several community groups to develop a better proclamation and flag raising policy.
“I’m sorry that we didn’t start this discussion, including you in that we, that we didn’t have this discussion sooner so that we could capture it in this month of this year and that the month had already begun and the flag had already been placed at North Fred prior to that,” Kaiser told Beauchesne. “Hopefully we’ll get to a better place for everybody and every group that has proclamations that we can have something that sits well with everybody. I’m certainly glad that you’re here, raising this issue and having the dialogue now. I just wanted to thank you.”
Councillor Dave Pinnell Jr. explained some of the reasoning behind the decision to fly all flags-not just the pride flag-at North Fred.
“When council made this decision last year, there’s a lot more behind the scenes too that you can read in the report that’s provided in the agenda for the reason for where it is,” said Pinnell. “If there was going to be larger groups that are going to be at flag raising (they could then hold a celebration at the North Fred Hall).”
The site’s ample parking, as well as providing a warm room for celebrations for winter months were among the reasons North Fred was selected.
Mayor Marg Isbester agreed a more visible site would be better.
“I agree with you 100 per cent,” she told Beauchesne. “I would far rather see the flags, my choice would be Centre Street with three flag poles. We’d always sort of put it off simply because not knowing what we were doing with town hall. It actually is the back of town hall but the front of town hall is not all that visible. To me a solution would be to put three new poles there.”
She added that she’d like to see discussion on Pride Month celebrations for next year start well in advance of June-and the same for any another proclamation made throughout the year. She also noted that June isn’t only Pride Month, but it’s also CNIB Deafblind Awareness Month and it is also Seniors’ Month as well, just to name a few. The same can be said for every month-there’s more than one organization that requests proclamations be made in any given month.
“We can’t and should not control any group of people that want to do some special things for recognizing groups, as long as it is within A. legal and B. something that’s not going to put us into any kind of jeopardy as far as people getting hurt,” said Isbester. “I know painting sidewalks and things like that, as long as it’s approved by council and staff, it’s not a bad idea.”