Thunder Pride is celebrating they’ve hit their fundraising target of over $10,000 to support the installation of the Rainbow and Transgender Crosswalks. Chair Jason Veltri tells us in just under 60 days they’ve brought in the cash from over 105 separate donors.
The project for the three crosswalks will cost $28,000 and will be split three ways between the City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Pride and contractor Northwest Lines. Northwest Lines will be the company painting the crosswalks on both the city’s south and north sides. The city’s share of the project will come to just over $9,000 and needs to be approved in the 2020 budget. The Thunder Pride Chair tells us Algoma Street will feature a Rainbow and Transgender crosswalk and Donald Street will have a single Rainbow crosswalk.
Veltri notes they hope to be able to start work on the Algoma crosswalk in May and have it ready for June 4th. The other Donald Street crosswalk is expected to be worked on throughout the summer.
Veltri says “I am filled with joy and overwhelmed with the support of our community, including that of Northwest Lines. For Northwest Lines to come onboard with a cost-sharing partnership to support this important and much-needed project shows that when you collaborate
and have a vision, anything is possible”.
Councillor Shelby Ch’ng says “Mainstream recognition of the Pride community in Thunder Bay has been long overdue. The Rainbow and Transgender crosswalk project isn’t just a symbol but a signal to all those who are in and all those who are out in Thunder Bay that we strive to be a welcoming and inclusive city.”
