In July, the Pride crosswalks at Niagara College campuses got more than a fresh coat of paint, but a new design.
The original rainbow design – a student-driven initiative – was first unveiled in 2019. On the heels of Pride Month in June, the colourful crosswalks at the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson Campuses were painted with the Progress Pride design – a gesture of support for NC’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
“Niagara College is pleased to unveil the new Progress Pride crosswalks, aligned with our commitment to inclusivity and to taking action to support the strong culture of inclusion and belonging that is central to our NC identity” said President Sean Kennedy.
Progress Pride crosswalk in NOTL.
Championed by NCSAC on behalf of students, and with strong support from the College’s Executive Team, the new crosswalks better represent the College’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and the commitment to increase representation across physical spaces (a goal in the EDI Blueprint).
“The re-installation of the progress pride crosswalks are truly remarkable!” said Dipal Patel, NCSAC President. “Not only are they beautiful, but they stand out as a beacon of support and inclusivity. As we were in 2019 when the original crosswalks were installed, and as we are today, we will always stand as an ally of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community!”
“When a former club President of the Niagara College Rainbow Knights had the idea to have Pride crosswalks installed at both campuses in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ students, NCSAC brought the idea to life,” said Bruin Pol, President of the Rainbow Knights student club. “Now, these same crosswalks have been updated and proudly display the progressive Pride flag. These updated crosswalks serve as a powerful symbol of Niagara College’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion and strongly voice that there is no room for hate within its walls. The Rainbow Knights are thrilled not only in seeing the crosswalks updated but also in knowing that Niagara College continues to acknowledge, celebrate, and listen to our voices. As a club, we are excited for further engagement in shaping the future of Niagara College.”
Pride Month recap
The new crosswalks follow Pride Month celebrations at NC in June which included flag-raising ceremonies followed by a rainbow pancake breakfast for students, staff and faculty courtesy of NCSAC. ncLibraries hosted A Journey Taken Together, a virtual talk with NC Outreach and Education Coordinator Alison Ryder and her mom, Ellen Schmidt. The Recruitment team represented the College at many community Pride events. NCSAC also hosted a Coffee for a Cause on June 22, raising $500 from hot beverage sales to donate to Pride Niagara.
The new Progress Pride crosswalk at the Welland Campus.
About the Progress Pride design
Designed by American artist and designer Daniel Quasar, the Progress Pride design features the traditional rainbow colours, plus a five-coloured chevron and black and brown stripes to better emphasize inclusion and to represent marginalized members of the community. The black and brown stripes have been interpreted in two ways, 1) to represent racial diversity within the community and 2) to represent those lost to HIV/AIDS, and those currently living with AIDS. The inclusion of pink, light blue and white pay homage to the Transgender Pride flag. The purple circle overlaid over a yellow triangle in the chevron on the left side of the flag represents the intersex flag.
