HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 09-22
Report to Council
Report Number: CS 09-22 Date: April 25, 2022
From: Sarah Douglas-Murray
Director, Community Services
Subject: pflag Community Banners -Esplanade Park
-File: A-1440-001
Recommendation:
1. That five pflag banners be installed on light standards along The Esplanade North for the
month of June 2022;
2. That one pflag banner be installed on the light standard immediately adjacent to the Rainbow crosswalk, on the Esplanade North, and remain in place until such time that a new Community Banner Policy is approved by Council;
3. That City staff be directed to draft a Community Banner Policy and return it for Council’s
consideration before the end of 2022; and,
4. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary actions as indicated in this report.
Executive Summary: At the March 28, 2022 Council meeting, correspondence was received from pflag Durham Region (Attachment #1) along with a delegation from the organization’s President Jake Farr requesting that six Pride Banners be displayed on the light standards on The Esplanade North annually during the month of June (Pride Month). During
the delegation, a further request was made that one of the six banners, installed on the light standard located immediately adjacent to the Rainbow Crosswalk on The Esplanade North, remain permanently on display.
City staff have since reviewed this request and consider it to align with the City’s commitment to advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. As such, City staff recommend its approval,
subject to pflag’s compliance with the City’s specifications and logistical requirements regarding the fabrication and installation of the signs. City staff also recommends approval that one of the six flags, located immediately adjacent to the Rainbow Crosswalk, remain installed until such time as a new Community Banner Policy is approved by Council.
As the City of Pickering does not currently have a policy or procedure for these type of
requests, staff are recommending the drafting of a new Community Banner Policy, which will be subject to Council’s approval, to address future requests of this nature.
CS 09-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: pflag Community Banners – Esplanade Park Page 2
Financial Implications: There are no financial implications to this report as pflag Durham
Region will be producing the banners, to the City’s specifications, at their expense. Operations
staff will be installing the banners within regular work operations.
Discussion: pflag Durham Region is a non-profit, 100 percent volunteer
organization that supports all persons in the Region of Durham, on their journeys through gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. They provide education and resources to the greater Durham community and the 2SLGBTQI in particular to help encourage inclusion, diversity and equity.
At the March 28, 2022 Council Meeting Correspondence (Attachment #1) and a related delegation was received from pflag Durham Region requesting that six Pride Banners be displayed on the light standards along The Esplanade North annually during the month of June (Pride Month) and that the banner located to the east of the Rainbow Crosswalk on The
Esplanade North remain on display throughout the year. The banners would be designed and
produced by pflag Durham Region, at their cost, and would be installed by City Operations staff. The proposed design, as referenced in Attachment #2, includes the rainbow flag with the following messages as recommended through pflag Durham Region’s consultation with the 2SLGBTQI+ community:
• Celebrate your pride
• Pride comes in all colours
• You are not alone
• Embrace diversity
• Pride is for everyone
• We all belong
The request of pflag Durham Region is directly aligned with the City’s commitment to advance
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and engage in programming that supports 2SLGBTQI+
communities as an equity-deserving group. In 2019, the City installed a Rainbow Crosswalk on The Esplanade North during Pride Month as a permanent symbol of respect and inclusion. As the City approaches this year’s Pride Month and re-introduces public events to the community, the banners represent a unique opportunity to reinforce this message. Together, these
symbols reflect the City’s commitment to raising awareness about the issues that affect the
2SLGBTQI+ community and to create welcoming, safe and positive space for all community members.
The City is already exploring opportunities for collaboration with pflag Durham Region as a
recognized community leader in serving the 2SLGBTQI+ community. This includes the
development of staff trainings, educational resources and opportunities for civic engagement. The proposed banner display will ultimately enhance these collaborations as part of a more holistic engagement with Pride Month and with 2SLGBTQI+ programming more broadly.
As part of the City’s existing Community Banner Program, the City of Pickering is currently
planning on the following banner exhibitions around Esplanade Park for the year 2022:
CS 09-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: pflag Community Banners – Esplanade Park Page 3
Banners Program Timing Location
35 Public Art Community Banner Installed in City Centre
Banners Public Art Program – December and Community removed in late submissions and September. selection through a Public Art Jury that
includes members of the Cultural Advisory Committee, professional artists, and City staff.
35 Legion 606 Bay Remembrance Day Installed in late City Centre Ridges Banners banners that are September, removed
installed annually. in late November
These banners share the same locations as the Public Art community banner
program.
The installation of the pflag Community Banners on The Esplanade North in June would
displace six of the planned Public Art Banners locations for the month of June and one of the planned Legion 606 Bay Ridges Banners for the months of October and November. Community Services staff have coordinated the necessary arrangements to relocate these displaced banners in other suitable locations.
As the City of Pickering does not currently have a policy for banner requests, staff will develop
a Community Banner Policy and return it to Council for their consideration before year end to address future requests of this nature.
Attachments:
1. pflag Request 2. Proposed Banner Design
CS 09-22 April 25, 2022
Subject: pflag Community Banners – Esplanade Park Page 4
Prepared/Approved/Endorsed By: Prepared/Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed ByOriginal Signed By
Sarah Douglas-Murray Jaclyn SanAntonio
Director, Community Services Senior Advisor, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
SDM:sdm
Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council
Original Signed By
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment #1 to Report CS 09-22
Pflag Durham Region
922 Vistula Drive, Pickering, ON L1W 2L5 905-231-0533
Inquiries@PFLAGDurhamRegion.com
www.PFLAGDurhamRegion.com
March 12, 2022
City of Pickering
1 Esplanade
Pickering, ON
To: City Council via Clerk’s office
Re: March 28th Delegation
Pflag Durham Region is a non-profit, 100% volunteer organization that supports all persons
within our reach of the Durham region, on their journeys through gender identity, gender
expression and sexual orientation. We provide education and resources to the greater Durham
community to help encourage inclusion, diversity and equity.
Within the scope of our work, we ongoingly support visibility. Visibility is very important for the
2SLGBTQI community, for those who are openly authentic and for those who are still not able to
be themselves openly.
Pflag Durham Region is seeking engagement by the City of Pickering to bring visibility to West
Durham. We are asking you to be part of the change and support the representation of the
2SLGBTQI community that exists in Pickering and the Durham Region.
Pflag Durham Region will be producing 6 Pride banners for light standards for North Esplanade.
These banners will display the new Pride Progress Flag along with a positive message and would
be displayed for June each year.
We look forward to providing more details at our delegation on March 28th, 2022
Included is a mock-up design of our proposal for you to have a visual component to this ask.
Jake Farr (He/They)
President, Pflag Durham Region
(Included below are some visual preliminary examples)
Attachment #2 to Report CS 09-22
Pflag Durham Region
922 Vistula Drive, Pickering, ON L1W 2L5 905-231-0533
Inquiries@PFLAGDurhamRegion.com
www.PFLAGDurhamRegion.com