Haldimand County to raise Pride flag for 1st time ever

Councillors in Haldimand County have voted unanimously to raise the Pride flag for the first time ever.

The county currently has a policy that only allows the Canadian, Haldimand and Commonwealth flags to fly, but that policy is set to change after the vote during a Monday council meeting. County staff will report back with proposed changes to the policy and other ways to recognize community groups.

It comes after a member of Pride Haldimand Norfolk said the LGBTQ+ group was too tired to keep trying to get the flag raised without success.

Councillors said that over the weekend community members called them, emailed them, and even knocked on their doors asking them to fly the flag.

Mayor Ken Hewitt, chief administrative officer Craig Manley, and the councillors all said no community members formally approached council about the issue. But they also said it was time to change the flag policy and raise the Pride flag.

"Times have changed, attitudes have changed and it's time we revisit our flag flying policy," said Ward 2 Coun. John Metcalfe.

Manley said the LGBTQ+ group "betrayed" the county and tarnished its reputation by approaching the media.

He said the original flag policy was put in place to try and treat everyone the same.

"For example, there are other organizations we haven't recognized in the past, things like cancer awareness, autism ... national Indigenous or Black history month or Crime Stoppers, all of which many municipalities do recognize," he said.

"Perhaps it is time to take a look at how we go about giving recognition, how we would do it in a fair, reasonable matter."

Manley and council also said council has been progressive, pointing to supporting past Pride events, creating a diversity, inclusion and equity committee, creating community safe spaces, and doing diversity training for most senior staff.

Hewitt said online the county may look at possibly constructing another flagpole in Cayuga "to recognize all the great special interest groups who bring so much value to Haldimand County."

Frances Porter, with Pride Haldimand Norfolk, said in an interview on Monday afternoon the group is pleased with the outcome.

"We feel awesome about it .. it's a big deal," she said. "We're happy they're raising the flag."