Ontario town shows inclusivity one year after mayor's controversial comments
The Town of Amaranth raised the Pride flag for the first time ever on Tuesday to mark Pride Month, one year after its mayor made controversial comments about flying the multi-coloured flag.
Stacey Whittington, chair of the Amaranth Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community Advisory Committee, said it had been a long time coming.
"I'm elated to see it up," she said. "It's just so nice to see that representation there," she added. "It's up across the street at the elementary school where I work, so it's so nice to be able to see the actual township is celebrating the LGBTQ2 community as well."
This time last year, the town's longtime mayor Bob Currie stirred controversy when he responded to a resident's question about why the Pride flag was not flying over Amaranth's municipal offices.
Following his remarks, there were calls for his resignation, and Currie was ousted from a key county committee. He has since issued an apology.
Currie was absent for the flag-raising Tuesday because of prior commitments but told CTV News he stands by the council's unanimous decision to fly the flag outside the administration centre.
In a release, the town said the flag-raising would provide "an opportunity to prevent discrimination."
"We're making positive changes to address a less than ideal situation from last year," deputy mayor Chris Gerrits said Tuesday.
The diversity equity advisory committee has 14 members working with town council to create inclusiveness in the community.
With files from CTV's Rob Cooper
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.