Results of Alberta town’s crosswalk vote reflects democratic process: mayor

BARRHEAD, Alta. – An Alberta mayor says his town’s vote to ban Pride and other flags and crosswalks from public property reflects democracy in action.

Residents of Barrhead, Alta., voted in support of a bylaw that effectively bans decorative flags and crosswalks, like those recognizing the LGBTQ+ community, from municipal property.

The bylaw was drafted after a petition signed by more than 700 people called for neutrality among town councillors.

An Alberta mayor says his town’s vote to ban Pride and other flags and crosswalks from public property reflects democracy in action. People walk on a Pride flag crosswalk in Calgary on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley

Mayor Dave McKenzie says council responded to the petition by giving residents a chance to voice their opinions and that roughly one-third of eligible voters did so in Monday’s vote.

The town has said council will now go forward with second and third readings of the so-called “Neutral Spaces Bylaw” and that it will soon remove existing crosswalks or flags, including a Pride crosswalk, the Royal Canadian Legion flag and the Treaty 6 flag.

The Town of Westlock passed a similar bylaw in February after it was argued that governments should not promote some groups over others.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.