Bank Street banners such as this have been called an eyesore by some and may be replaced.
Promotional lamp post banners along Bank Street, which have drawn criticism for their design and susceptibility to wind damage, could be replaced with flags representing the GLBTQ community, say local advocates.
“It’s very encouraging. I’m very excited about this opportunity,” says Glenn Crawford, chair of The Village, an association that was formed to create and maintain a gay village downtown.
Bank Street Promenade executive director Gerry LePage says he approached Crawford to be part of a committee of local stakeholders to choose a new banner design.
A grand re-opening of Bank Street is scheduled for this spring, so the board is looking to replace the current banners before then, he says.
Crawford has proposed to have a different banner which would earmark a gay village in the area bound by James and Nepean streets.
He says he would love the banners to have the colours of the rainbow flag and The Village logo.
LePage says it will be up to the board of members and the stakeholder’s committee to approve the final design.
Crawford would have as much input as any other stakeholder, LePage adds.
The push for a new banner came after much criticism of the current ones, which were installed on lamp posts after the end of recent construction on Bank Street between Laurier and Somerset streets.
The blue banners have red and white writing with the slogan “Better Than Ever.”
According to Crawford, the writing on them is barely legible and some of them are damaged by the wind or have ripped off.
He says when the recent redevelopment of Bank Street started, he attended meetings and asked for city support in formally establishing a gay village, but it soon became clear
The Village wouldn’t have direct access to the lamp posts because they would be owned by the BIA.
Crawford says he’s confident The Village will be able to fund the banners if they are approved because support is high when there is a specific project in mind.
The Village has set aside nearly $10,000 for signage projects in the past few years, as well as business support, he says.
But generating revenue and getting the green light from the BIA is not all that is needed to make this project a reality.
Businesses also need to get on board.
Wilde’s owner Robert Giacobbe says while the BIA is very gay positive, some businesses may be reluctant to be identified as part of a gay village depending on their clientele.
There is still a “fear of the unknown” because many people haven’t been exposed to the gay community, he says.
“I can sympathize with that,” he said.
Bank Street businesses were hit hard by massive road re-construction and last year’s bus strike, and this could be seen as another blow as businesses may end up losing customers who don’t wish to associate with a gay village, Giacobbe says.
To be taken seriously in their effort to have part of Bank Street designated as a gay village, more businesses need to put up flags, and more gay-friendly events need to happen, he adds.
For the re-opening of Bank Street, Giacobbe says he would like to see some form of an event for the gay community as well.