The city is expanding the design options on memorial benches, thanks to a Waterdown advocate.
Jennifer Valeri is the force behind the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection to Waterdown District High School and Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School, after a pride flag was vandalized in her front yard.
"A few years ago our family, and subsequently our daughters, were the victim of a hate crime," Valeri told the Public Works Committee. "During that painful process we realized how privileged we are to not be repeated targets of hate, and that privilege should come with the responsibility of making the world a more inclusive place."
Valeri also gave out pride flags at a Waterdown event a few years ago, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Now, Valeri has turned her focus to adding rainbow coloured pride benches to the city's Commemorative Bench and Tree Program.
Currently, residents can have a grey or brown bench with a plaque engraved for a loved one, but after creating a pride-themed bench in Joe Sams Park, Valeri began to think about the city offering more options.
The bench in Joe Sams Park is dedicated to Chris Owens, a 26-year-old Waterdown man who lost his battle with mental health and addiction in 2021. The bench commemorates Owens as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
The first and only pride bench in the city sits where the yearly run in Owens's honour begins.
Valeri says she has been working with city's manager of parks and cemeteries, Kara Bunn, and district superintendent of parks Steve Hassleman to get the project off the ground.
"We designed a pride bench with the Parks department," she previously told FlamboroughToday, "but that was just a one-off."
"I ask you honour him by making this process to request a rainbow bench, the Chris Owens Memorial Process. This is a mostly cost neutral ask, outside of some website work and administrative time," she said.
Valeri said the design for the bench has already been created, with the Chris Owens memorial bench, and the city just needs to create another option for residents to choose.
"There is enormous community support for this initiative," said Coun. Ted McMeekin at the meeting.
The motion carried 11-0, and will move on to be finalized at city council on Nov. 13.
