Madawaska Valley will recognize June as Pride Month, but a council motion to hang a physical rainbow flag that represents support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community was defeated.
Instead, council voted Tuesday to have Pride Month recognized on its new digital sign on Arena Road.
Coun. Mary Blank made that proposal, and it was supported by Mayor Mark Willmer and Councillors David Shulist and Joseph Olsheski. Shelley Maika opposed.
An earlier vote, proposed by Wilmer, to have a Pride flag hang on a physical pole was defeated. Only Shulist supported the Mayor’s call.
Blank said she supports Pride month but thought the digital sign would be more in keeping with Township policy which puts limitations on hanging flags.
The votes came following a delegation from a local advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community asking for the Township to recognize Pride Month, plus a written request from a Renfrew County Pride group.