WESTLOCK - Echoes of excitement and discussion erupted on the steps of R.F. Staples as students gathered to show their support for Pride.
On Tuesday June 10, stickers with different 2SLGBTQIA+ flags waved in the air as students passed them between groups, saying “What are you?” as they scanned the roll.
After the instructions from Heidi Mills, the Regional Office Student & Family Advocate for R.F. Staples and the organizer of the event, participants took off in groups to use rollers, paint brushes, their hands and even their clothes to repaint the sidewalk leading to the front steps a different colour of the rainbow.
People laughed as Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan played over a speaker and pizza orders were taken. Kids uninterested in painting could use chalk to make various sketches.
Mills said the repainted front entrance represents a community of acceptance, kindness and joy that can sometimes be hard to find nowadays.
“It can be really hard to be loud and proud about some of the events and things that we want to do as a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)...” Mills said “…and I think that's what the kids would feel too, but I feel like it's important to keep pushing on some of those boundaries and messages, to show kids that it's okay and to know who their community is.”
R.F. Staples is the home to the Thunder Alliance GSA, a group of individuals who support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and also the original applicants for the rainbow crosswalk in town in June of 2023.
Mills was a part of the original painting of the sidewalk where hundreds of people gathered on 106 Street to show support. In February 2024, Westlock residents voted to ban Pride crosswalks and only allowing flags that represent the municipal, provincial or federal governments to fly on municipal flagpoles. However, this does not stop the school from doing its sidewalk painting as it is not municipal property.
While Mills was devastated by the bylaw, she believes it is important to keep “pushing on some of those limiting beliefs, keep opening doors for these kids instead of them feeling like they can't be who they are.”
That is one of the reasons why Mills got involved.
“It's important that we shine a light on these issues and continue to support kids who are growing up in this community and not feel so alone.”
The R.F. Staples Thunder Alliance GSA continues to host events and fundraisers that “promote and open doors for these kids” and with a small group of parents that gather money to support them as well. The GSA has a small pot of money that they fundraise for every year but “anyone can donate if they want to…”
“There is a lot of conflict around rainbow things and pride and just people being able to be who they are as they were born to be," Mills said.
