After years of surveys, debate and hesitation, signs have been erected permanently labeling a section of Bank Street as “Le/The Village”.
The six rainbow-embellished signs can be seen at the intersections of Somerset, Nepean and Frank streets.
Somerset Councillor Diane Holmes surveyed residents and businesses in the area several times to gather a general opinion about designating this area of Bank Street as the gay village.
She said they got 181 surveys back out of the 1,400 distributed. Of those, 115 were in favour and 66 were opposed.
Gerry Lepage, executive director of the Bank Stree BIA, expressed the BIA's support of the signs' installation in a press release.
"We are pleased to support this symbolism of Ottawa’s diversity, inclusiveness and recognition that the GLBTQ community is a vital and integral part of Ottawa’s cultural mosaic."