LGTBQ+, Transgender flags now on permanent 3 Avenue crosswalks

​As the 3rd Avenue South reconstruction project nears completion, two new painted crosswalks at the 7 Street intersection will have extra significance.

On Tuesday, construction crews complete painting and installation of a progressive LGBTQ+ flag crosswalk and a Transgender flag crosswalk on the corner of 3 Avenue South and 7 Street South in Downtown Lethbridge.

Both crosswalks will be permanent thanks to financial support from Lethbridge Pride Fest Society. The permanent paint will withstand daily wear and tear and can last up to 10 years. 

"I'm not sure if anywhere else has a progressive flag on a permanent crosswalk, so Lethbridge could very well be the first," says Lane Sterr, President of Lethbridge Pride Fest Society.

"The Lethbridge Pride Fest Society has been instrumental in this implementation and we are excited for these crosswalks to be a part of the streetscaping project on 3 Avenue," says Andrew Malcolm, Urban Revitalization Manager. "The ongoing revitalization efforts are rooted in making Downtown Lethbridge a vibrant space for everyone in our community."

The crosswalks will be in place well ahead of this year's Return to Pride events that are scheduled for June 20-25.

The City of Lethbridge first painted temporary crosswalks Downtown ahead of the 2016 Lethbridge Pride Fest, after City Council gave organizers the go ahead to paint crosswalks in celebration of the event.

In 2017, City Council approved the 3 Avenue South Reconstruction Project – which included a permanent rainbow-flag crosswalk and a permanent transgender-flag crosswalk be included in the design to be placed at the intersection of 3 Avenue and 7 Street South – as part of the 2018-2027 Capital Improvement Program.

As part of the resolution, the Lethbridge Pride Society agreed to cover the increased costs associated with the permanent crosswalks.