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Delta installs rainbow benches

The City of Delta has installed rainbow benches at recreational facilities to promote diversity and inclusion.
delta rainbow benches
City council will discuss more ongoing funding to promote diversity and inclusion.

The City of Delta has installed rainbow benches at recreational facilities to promote diversity and inclusion.

The rainbow benches were to placed outside the Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre, Ladner Leisure Centre, Sungod Recreation Centre and the new North Delta Arts Centre/North Delta Recreation Centre.

“I overwhelmingly support the prudent investment by staff for the rainbow benches throughout Delta,” said Coun. Dylan Kruger in an earlier interview. “Rainbow benches have been proven to be less expensive alternatives to crosswalks, meaning the city is able to do more with less sooner.”

He said it was important to the Community Livability Advisory Committee to find an opportunity to promote inclusivity with a visual signal in all three of Delta’s communities.

Delta council this summer approved several recommendations that originated with the committee to promote diversity and inclusion, including offering sensitivity and language training to advance Delta as an inclusive work environment.

The estimated cost to install the benches is $12,000.

delta rainbow benches

 

During their discussion, Community Livability Advisory Committee members were largely in agreement that rainbow crosswalks are prone to being easily vandalized and that benches would be a good way to set Delta apart. However, the committee also agreed that, moving forward, Aboriginal people should also be included in a design that may have the rainbow colours but not necessarily the stripe pattern.

Having rainbow crosswalks was one of the suggestions brought forward this year by Sher Vancouver, a non-profit group founded in North Delta supporting LGBTQ South Asians and their friends and families.

In less than two weeks this summer, vandals twice defaced a pride flag at Ladner United Church.

When news broke of the first flag being defaced, there was a collective outcry of anger and frustration from throughout the community with Mayor George Harvie saying the community will not tolerate such acts.

The City of Delta then joined Delta police and Delta fire to raise a pride flag for the first time at municipal hall, while the Delta School District did the same.