The council in St. Stephen continues to debate a proposed crosswalk policy for the municipal district.
It seeks to outline the requirements for getting a coloured crosswalk, including the responsibility for the cost of putting them up, labour, and maintenance, which would fall to the individual or organization requesting it.
Any crosswalk would also be subject to approval by Public Works, according to the policy.
It also outlines what would or wouldn’t be allowed. For example, the crosswalk’s transverse lines must be painted white per the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The crosswalk markings should provide visual contrast and be reflective as per DTI. The proposed policy indicates that only durable, slip-resistant pavement marking should be used.
If passed, it would not allow for commercial or trademark crosswalks, or of a religious or political nature. Nor does it allow for crosswalks that are contrary to the philosophy of the municipal district or that espouse hatred, violence, or racism.
The policy allows for the denial of any crosswalk based on content and location. It should also celebrate “our” culture, history, and events.
The proposed policy did face concerns and questions from the current council.
Coun. Joyce Wright said she had many concerns when it came to the policy, including who could support a proposed crosswalk, who might be able to submit one, and who decides what is cultural or historical.
“If we’re going to allow coloured crosswalks of whatever strip, of whatever theme, that everybody in the municipality can take part,” she said.
Meanwhile, Coun. Brian Cornish said he felt there should only be black and white crosswalks.
“I’d rather go with the new than go backward,” – Coun. Emily Rodas
“I think they should be black and white,” he said. “There (a) safety issue. Everybody understands them (black and white). Lots of times, you come along … it looks like a crosswalk and it looks like a lot of paint too. Far as I’m concerned, crosswalks, remove the advertisement off the street and go back to what they used to before.”
He sought to back to basics, he explained to the council.
Coun. Emily Rodas defended the coloured crosswalks.
“It’s important to remember it’s not just a colour when it comes to equity and inclusion,” she said. “There are lots of kids that I speak to every day who will in passing say ‘oh, I never thought that crosswalk would be in my community,’ so you have no idea the difference it makes if you’re a youth who is totally isolated.”
She said inclusive crosswalks have become part of the fabric of most communities across the country. Annually, municipalities paint a rainbow crosswalk for the LGBTQIA+ community and more recently, orange crosswalks to represent all the lives lost and those who continue to struggle with the impacts of residential schools in Canada.
“I’d rather go with the new than go backward,” she said.
In 2017, the municipality faced controversy over the painting of a rainbow crosswalk, where several members of council opposed it, according to reports from CBC New Brunswick. Some of those members are no longer on the council.
Coun. Wade Greenlaw said he would like to see a better definition of what constitutes a neighbourhood. The proposed policy requires majority support from whatever neighbourhood the crosswalk is in.
“There should be a decommissioning fee as well,” he said. “If it is only there for one year or two years and they decide not to support it anymore, then it is going to have to be cleaned up and changed or whatever.”
Renaud said the council could set parameters about what it would ultimately like for the neighbourhood to be, like residents or businesses within a certain number of metres of the crosswalk.
“We didn’t want to define it for you,” he said. “What’s the sphere of influence around the neighbourhood that needs to be considered.”
Renaud said distance is the usual measurement used for notification of things like these, including certain types of permits.
Wright said her concern remains that the proposed policy could leave out the mainly rural areas of the municipal district. She would like to see designated ones that anyone could sponsor.
She said she believes there should potentially be designated crosswalks that anyone could sponsor.
‘We are a voice for the community’
Mayor Allan MacEachern said part of the responsibility of the council is to grow and change.
“I was part of the first crosswalk that ever came to St. Stephen and it was not fun, but it was an experience this community needed to get through,” he said. “That’s our job. We are a voice for the community.”
Rodas suggested there be a clause for grandfathering in the LGBTQIA+ crosswalk and the Indigenous crosswalk.
“Those two are downtown-owned,” she said. “I don’t believe in standing for something and then backing off.”
She said having these difficult conversations is how change happens.
“We don’t see eye-to-eye on every single thing,” she said. “There is a certain level of respect and there is value to it.”
Coun. Earle Eastman said he believes the primary objective of the proposed policy would be the cost to do these crosswalks and maintain them.
“The whole intent was not an individual saying I’m going to pay for a crosswalk, it was a group or an organization to get together and make that decision,” he said.
In November 2024, there was a viral crosswalk supporting veterans approaching Remembrance Day. Many places saw residents asking municipalities to follow suit.
MacEachern said that the desire by groups is what propelled the creation of a standardized policy, as well as, taking the financial burden off the taxpayer.
Coun. Marg Harding said she believes the rainbow crosswalk was one of her proudest accomplishments on the council.
“I would be really upset if anything happened to it,” she said. “If it is not grandfathered in, it should be.”
MacEachern said he has over the years received a lot of vocal support for the LGBTQ crosswalk.
“It goes to what you’re saying, it does show inclusiveness and diversity,” he said.
Ultimately, MacEachern said it is about balancing the financial strain of maintaining these crosswalks while upholding the inclusivity they represent and value they bring to members of the community and those who visit.
The crosswalk policy is still in the draft phase and has no standing until formalized and passed by a vote of the council.
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