Photo by Avery Treadwell.
UVic first unveiled the rainbow crosswalk outside of the Student Union Building (SUB) in June 2015. Now, 11 years later, the school has announced plans to repaint the crosswalk in a new location.
The university announced in a notice that there will be lane closures on Ring Road from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. tomorrow while the crosswalk is installed.
The state of the current crosswalk was criticised by student union leaders at the June 8 UVSS Board of Directors meeting.
In 2021, UVic established the Rainbow Crosswalk Steering Committee (RCSC) with the intention of undergoing an “extensive consultation process” to identify policies, programs and institutional structures to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff.
In 2023, Times Colonist reported UVic had spent two years and $24 000 in consultant fees exploring options regarding repainting the fading pride crosswalk.
In a statement to the Martlet, Associate Vice President of Equity & Human Rights, Cassbreea Dewis, said that UVic leadership decided to wait to repaint the crosswalk until the RSCS had completed its consultations.
Dewis said that local Indigenous artist Margaret August had created two designs for the new crosswalk, which vary from the traditional zebra-stripe crosswalk.
“The rainbow design is paying homage to queerness in all identities on the queer spectrum,” August said about their design in a statement to the Martlet.
Dewis said the new crosswalk will be constructed with thermoplastic, a more durable and longer-lasting material than paint. She said that there will not be a final cost figure for this project until it is complete, but thermoplastic is more costly than regular paint.
“This installation is expected to last well beyond ten years — it’s an important investment in a durable symbol of inclusion, care, and collaboration in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community at UVic,” she said.
Dewis said the asphalt in the former crosswalk location is damaged, and cannot sustain an installation such as this in its current state. The new crosswalk will be painted on Ring Road, between the Cove and the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library.
“I feel the current location of the Pride crosswalk is better,” said Cecilia Bulbrook — Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) representative on the UVSS Board of Directors — told the Martlet in a statement.
“As someone who works in the UVSS with the advocacy groups the Pride crosswalk means a lot to us because it feeds into our mission to make campus, especially the SUB, a safe space for people to come and be themselves.”
Bulbrook said she didn’t feel there was adequate information available publicly about where the $24 000 spent on consultation went.
Tam Aljundi, director of campaigns and community relations, said that after receiving student feedback, the importance of the Pride crosswalk is clear.
“For many students, university is one of the first places where they are able to fully be themselves and find community. When a visible symbol of inclusion is left in unattended condition, students notice, and it is fair for them to ask what message that sends.”
Pride Collective Coordinator Liya Tensae said in a statement to the Martlet that while the crosswalk should not be a top priority for the university, “it is a simple enough action to show solidarity and support for Queer and Trans students.”
“There are much more pertinent issues amongst the Queer and Trans community,” she said.
Tensae said that the rise in transphobic rhetoric and actions, and difficulties accessing care due to a lack of primary care providers, are examples of issues that are more important.
She noted that representation is only “one piece of the pie,” and that “representation without protection is vulnerability.
Tensae also noted that the $24 000 spent in consultation could have been used better in support of Queer and Trans students on campus. “Overall, to spend $24 000 on consultation and not show any results for three years is disappointing.”
Dewis pointed out that the university has taken several steps in recent years to support UVic’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, such as improving access to safe all-gender washrooms.
“The new crosswalk will be opened with a Pride Crosswalk Celebration in early July,” Yahlnaaw, co-chair of the RSCS, said in a statement to the Martlet.
Margaret August will be present at the celebration to speak about their process and design, which will be unveiled in coming weeks.
