CALGARY—Permanent rainbow and transgender Pride flag crosswalks will be installed in downtown Calgary this summer.

Councillor Druh Farrell said she got confirmation from city officials Friday that the crosswalks will be painted June 30. She said a private donor is covering the costs of the installation.

Last year, Mount Royal University unveiled the city’s first permanent rainbow crosswalk on campus, prompting questions about why Calgary, as a major Canadian city, didn’t have a permanent one in a more prominent part of the city.

The pink, blue and white transgender flag crosswalk will cross Stephen Avenue Walk just west of Centre St. S., and the rainbow-coloured Pride crosswalk will be painted to the east. The flag colours are symbols of visibility and support for LGBTQ people.

“It’s an important statement for the city that we support our LGBTQ community,” Farrell said, adding the crossings are important symbols of human rights and gender diversity.

“It’s been an easy thing and an inexpensive thing to do, so I’m delighted.”

In the past, rainbow crosswalks have been painted downtown for Calgary’s annual Pride festival, but they’ve always been temporary.

This year, Calgary Pride runs from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2.

Read more:

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