'Disturbed and disappointed': Delta officials condemn Pride flagpole vandalism
Police in Delta are investigating after the flagpole bearing the city's Progress Pride flag was apparently cut down by a vandal Wednesday morning.
“I am incredibly disturbed and disappointed by the actions of the vandal who tore down our Progress Pride flagpole in front of city hall earlier this morning," said Delta Mayor George V. Harvie in a statement.
"Hate has no place in our community and I will not tolerate it. Delta council and I stand firmer than ever with our LGBTQ2S+ community and are proud of the beautiful Pride rainbow banners that continue to stand strong all across Delta. Love will always win over hate.”
Delta Police Department Chief Neil Dubord echoed the mayor's sentiments in the statement, saying the department is "actively investigating" and will pursue charges.
"The Pride flag is more than a symbol for the LGBTQ2S+ community – it represents a desire for everyone to be treated equally, regardless of sexuality, race, gender identity, religion or any other label," Dubord said.
The Progress Pride flag was designed in 2018 by non-binary American artist Daniel Quasar. It adds five colours – brown, black, pink, light blue and white – to the common six-colour rainbow Pride flag in an arrow pointing right to show forward movement and illustrate that progress toward inclusivity still needs to be made.
The colours represent transgender and non-binary people and queer communities of colour, according to Quasar.
Delta raised its Pride flag on June 1. It was the fourth year city officials have held a ceremony to raise a Pride flag, and the first time the city used a Progress Pride flag in its ceremony.
The city also installed rainbow street banners across the city in consultation with the Delta Pride Society and the Mayor’s Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.