Brandon University invites you to join us as we celebrate love with a new, permanent installation of a Pride crosswalk. Located in a highly trafficked, prominent, and very visible area near the heart of campus, the new crosswalk connects Harvest Hall with the John E. Robbins Library.

The new crosswalk was installed by Physical Plant earlier this week and will be officially opened Friday afternoon with a brief ribbon cutting featuring representatives from Brandon Pride. It’s the city’s first rainbow-coloured crosswalk and will be a fun and vibrant addition to campus, with the reflective library windows providing a myriad of photo opportunities.

“Brandon Pride is ecstatic that Brandon University has put this crosswalk together, the first of its kind in the city. Pride Week returns after being absent for two years next week and this is a great way to kick off the celebrations,” said Aly Wowchuk, Vice Chair of the Brandon Pride Committee.

“It is no secret that Brandon lacks spaces like these that represent the 2SLGBTQIA+ community that many other towns and cities have, such as the well-loved rainbow crosswalks. Showcasing these elements within our city helps individuals see themselves as part of this community,” she added. “This crosswalk gives LGBTQ+ people more visibility and we hope this is the first step of many more projects like this here in Brandon. Happy Pride!”

The new Pride crosswalk will be a permanent fixture on campus, re-painted every year. Nearby, flowers are being planted in a rainbow pattern to also create a Pride garden, and a new 24-foot-wide banner celebrating Pride is also being permanently installed inside the McMaster Hall residence. The University is also flying the Pride flag in front of Clark Hall, near 18^th Street for the month of June. Thanks to the installation of new flag poles last year, this is the first time Brandon University has been able to actually fly the Pride flag. Previously, it has been hung, banner-style, on Clark Hall.

“These symbols of love and Pride are real and tangible indicators that Brandon University is a welcoming and inclusive campus, where everyone of all genders and all sexual identities is encouraged to be their full self,” said Cheryl Fleming, BU’s Diversity and Human Rights Advisor. “For Pride, we are also re-adopting our historic ‘Be You at BU’ slogan to show our support for everyone, especially those who are part of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”

Fleming noted that BU has long been a strong supporter of gender and sexual orientation inclusion, with past initiatives like the “Positive Space” campaign, a transformation of campus washrooms into gender-neutral options, and the Gender and Women’s Studies program.

All are invited to the Pride crosswalk ribbon-cutting in a spirit of celebration and love. You are welcome to wear your proudest outfits. Brandon University Pride shirts are available at the BU Bookstore.

This year’s Brandon Pride — returning after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic — features a week of activities, kicking off on Sunday, June 12 and culminating on Saturday, June 18^th with a noon rally at Brandon City Hall, followed by a march to Rideau Park for further festivities. See facebook.com/WheatCityPride for more.