Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano is praising dozens of volunteers who repainted vandalized rainbow crosswalks on Canada Day.
In June, Fernie Secondary School (FSS) students showed their support for the Fernie Pride Society by painting six rainbow crosswalks downtown and near the school.
On the morning of July 1, as the town prepared for Canada Day celebrations, it was discovered the crosswalks had been spray painted with obscenities, said Giuliano.
“I’m sure it must have been a young person that just doesn’t realize what the real significance of the crosswalks are,” she said.
Over a dozen members of public works, the fire department, council members and the public gathered quickly and repainted the sidewalks within a couple of hours, she said.
“This is a town that is open for people of all beliefs, ethnicities and sexual preferences,” said Giuliano. “We’re created equal but we’re definitely not created the same and for that reason we need to show acceptance.”