They raised the Pride flag in Delta for the first time on Wednesday morning at municipal hall and the school board headquarters in Ladner.

Mayor George Harvie was joined by Police Chief Neil Dubord, Fire Chief Paul Schofield and several dozen emergency services personnel and civic staff outside city hall to raise a flag on one of the poles in support of LGBTQ2+ community, sending a message Delta is an accepting and inclusive community.

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Saying it was important more than ever to send the message following the vandalism of a Pride flag at Ladner United Church last weekend, Harvie told the Optimist Delta citizens stand for inclusion and acceptance and against intolerance and discrimination.

“We just wanted to show our feelings and support for the LBGTQ community and this is a small gesture, but very important. Everybody should feel included, everyone is a citizen and we’re here to support everybody,” he said.

Dubord agreed, saying, “We look for authentic inclusion and this is a way to show all our employees are included in a meaningful manner. It’s a great time to hold this flag raising as well.”

A short time later just down the street, a flag raising was held at the school board offices.

School board chair Laura Dixon said it had a dual focus.

“We had a variety of messaging around our existing procedures and practices in the school district around Pride Month, but we took this additional step in consultation with the City of Delta who are also joining us in this measure to show a strong positive statement in light of what we have seen in the community,” said Dixon. “The response is just to flood the community with positive messages and re-affirm this important work and that everyone is safe, inclusive and is able to achieve their full potential free of any discrimination, bias or homophobia.”

Dixon called Sunday’s incident appalling.

“I was very dismayed. Seeing such a positive step from one of our faith-based organizations and the leadership of the church is so positive and we don’t want to be the dominant message – we want this to be the dominant message,” she added. “We have their backs.”

Pride flags were also raised elsewhere in the community in support including churches.