Another municipality in Metro Vancouver will soon have its own rainbow crosswalk to acknowledge and celebrate the LGBTQ community.

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On Monday, Richmond city council approved the permanent installation of a rainbow crosswalk on Minoru Boulevard, adjacent to the Richmond Library and Cultural Centre (RLCC) and the City Hall Annex — immediately southwest of CF Richmond Centre shopping mall.

The location was chosen because of its high pedestrian traffic, and it will replace the existing crosswalk in the area. It will also complement the rainbow-painted stairs at the main entrance of the RLCC.

Richmond LGBTQ rainbow crosswalk location

Location of the LGBTQ rainbow crosswalk in Richmond. (Google Maps)

“The city values diversity in the community as one of its fundamental strengths and understands that the work of creating a fully inclusive society is ongoing and there is a need to expand people’s ideas about gender and sexual expression,” reads a city staff report.

The new functional public art installation is expected to cost $15,000, and it will be made ready by July 29, 2019, to coincide with Pride Week.

As well, the city staff report notes a separate community grassroots initiative has funded the $750 cost to paint Cambie Community Centre’s outdoor basketball court’s three-point line in rainbow colours for Pride Week.

There are currently 43 cities across the province with LGBTQ rainbow crosswalks or other physical visual representations, including rainbow crosswalks in Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster, and White Rock.

Richmond’s approval follows the recent completion of a rainbow crosswalk in Port Moody, and the approval of four rainbow crosswalks in Burnaby.

Delta is also currently in the process of considering a similar crosswalk installation.

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