CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Renegade Rainbows initiative ran last weekend.
Members of the community could register to have volunteers draw rainbows on their driveways, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community during pride month.
Wellington County councillor Diane Ballantyne and reverend Ann Turner at Saint James Anglican in Fergus organized the initiative.
There were over 150 residential and commercial addresses chalked for this event, not including members of the community who didn’t register but drew their own rainbows.
In a letter, Ballantyne and Turner thanked Shoppers Drug Mart and the District 18 OSSTF Teachers Bargaining Unity for donations of food and drinks to the volunteers.
Ballantyne credited the hard working volunteers, called “renegades”, as there were roughly 30 volunteers who chalked all the driveways for the event.
“The community participation was exceptional.” said Ballantyne, as there was more involvement than expected.
She stressed the importance of community involvement and inclusion that Renegade Rainbows is about, creating signs of support that members of the LGBTQ+ community are going to see.
Ballantyne detailed potential plans for next year, saying organizers would start registering people earlier than they did this year, and have more chalk on hand.
Ballantyne thanked the community for embracing the project, noting, “That’s how you build community.”
