Municipal Election: Your vote, your voice!

Where the candidates stand

In the lead-up to the municipal vote taking place Oct. 12 - Oct. 22, Pembroke Pride and PFLAG Renfrew County asked each of the 22 candidates running for Mayor or Councillor to answer three short questions of interest to the LGBTQ community and allies in Pembroke. Read our letter here.
We received 14 responses, which are reprinted below in the order received, and we'll post more answers as we receive them.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond! We look forward to working with the new council and the City to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive community for all.  
CANDIDATE
QUESTION 1
​ Would you support a rainbow crosswalk in Pembroke, similar to what we’re seeing in dozens of communities across Canada?
QUESTION 2 
​How can the City work with us to promote and expand the annual Pride Festival to attract even more participants from Pembroke and across Renfrew County?
​
QUESTION 3
​​Do you have any other ideas or comments about how we can create a safe and inclusive community for LGBTQ youth and adults?
John McCann
Yes I would support a rainbow crosswalk. It would be nice for the City to always show support and acceptance for all.
​As current chair of the Rec department I would support having our department help out in any way for the parade.
​Have a safer and more inclusive city by including this community in more of our events and educate the public on the benefits of an inclusive city.
Chris Matthews
I do support the rainbow crosswalk. 
I'm not sure what capacity the city can get involved with outside organizations but I would love to participate in helping. I did observe this year. 
​Send invitations out to local heroes that support your cause.
Brian Abdallah
YES
Provide in kind support in such items as City Website publicity, Facebook support, 
Mayor Proclaiming a Pembroke Pride Day in the City of Pembroke, Hold a Pride Parade in Downtown Pembroke, general support and promotion. Provide a booth at the Spring Downtown Trade show at the PMC.  I believe supporting it in public and getting the message out there will be a great start.
​My campaign vision is "Building a Community for Everyone." We foster a community of caring and acceptance of everyone. 
We have a Community Policing Committee, a Community Policing Office Downtown.  With the new Safer Ontario Act, Bill 175 every community in Ontario needs to develop a Community Well Being and Safety Plan that is proactive in working on social issues and crime in the community.  I believe creating this Plan will enhance the overall awareness of what an accepting community should be.
Mike LeMay 
Yes, but it is a request that should go to the PBIA, as all matters concerning the downtown are discussed with recommendations going to council. As a representative on the PBIA, I would personally support this request.
​A partnership with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and our Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee would be a good start. The annual pride festival would definitely attract people from outside the city.
​I’m really disappointed that the provincial government  decided to cancel the new sex ed curriculum. That decision is one that should be reconsidered. I would recommend that you work with the four school boards to arrive at ideas on how  to create a safe environment for our youth that are part of the LBGTQ community. We will continue as a city to do our part, with your help, to make Pembroke a safe and inclusive community.
Cory Nagora
​I would support having a rainbow crosswalk in the city. 
I would gladly accept an organized event and parade. I noticed that the last Pride Festival was held at the Champlain Trail Museum and I believe the Marina would be a better location. I think that by working with council we should be able to promote the event out to the County so that this festival is the biggest and most vibrant.
I believe that we as a community have to do better at showing compassion and acceptance. I know not everyone understands the issues your organization has had to go through to be able to be yourselves freely. I’m a progressive thinker and know there is still a lot of stigma that relates to the aging population and by having more collaboration and understanding between the community, would help put these stigmas aside. I feel that it’s council's role to ensure that we as a community continue to move towards this goal. Hate crimes of any sort are unacceptable.
Christine Reavie
​I would absolutely support having a rainbow pedestrian crossing in our downtown.  This is a project that could be done in concert with the PBIA - they had approached Council about the possibility of courtesy crosswalks, however this particular crossing would go far beyond in showing the City as being a supportive partner with the LGBQTT community.
In 2015 I participated in the Pride march - I’m not certain if that was the first year or not.  I know that this was not done this year - unfortunate.  However, I would like to put a thought on the table, as I am a strong believer in diversity and inclusion.  I would propose that the City hold an annual Diversity Day (week?) that would include a festival celebrating everyone and everything different - cultures, race, sexual orientation, abilities etc.  My suggestion would be that we stop putting labels on people....labels invite judgement.  Diversity Day would be held at the waterfront, and it would be amazing to have a march through the centre, every hour on the hour, for each of the communities being represented.  We have become so diverse that we might have to do this every half hour or 45 minutes!  I think something like this would attract folks from across the county (and beyond?) and would certainly put Pembroke on the map.  There would be so many benefits in being identified as an accepting, inclusive and diverse community and would certainly be something that we would build on each year.
​I would propose having a discussion with the LGBQTT community, the police, and City Council centred on enhanced safety measures.  Safety initiatives would include identifying ‘safe homes’ for LGBQTT folks who are feeling threatened and unsafe.  I suggest a rainbow decal (similar to the ones used by the Block Parent program and pet owner stickers that people use for emergency personnel), and the decals could be picked up at City Hall (and promoted by the city).  In addition to this, perhaps a registry of safe addresses could be included on the City’s website.

Currently, as an incumbent councillor on the Police Service Board, I would like to initiate a conversation with the Pembroke Police Services Board and Detachment Commander regarding a special LGBQTT liaison officer.  This is important because we can then address safety with education.
From both a councillor and community member’s perspective, I would like to see our community safer, more inclusive, and more enriched by advancing the conversation about LGBQTT issues.  
Dan Callaghan
​I see no reason to not look into the possibility of a cross walk in a location where a crosswalk is warranted.
I think that is a discussion between your group and the city to see what we can come up with that is agreeable and fair to all.​​
Continue to work with all stakeholders and organizations to create a community that we can all be proud of.
Pat Lafreniere
​I absolutely would support a rainbow crosswalk to show our support in being an inclusive community who respects all.  
​I would support the City promoting Pride events in the same manner we promote other community events. Whether it’s a link from our own site or on our Facebook page. 
​Inclusion is what the world should strive for. Whether it’s colour, race or gender. We are all one under the sun. 
Ed Jacyno
I believe this would be a good thing especially as the vibrant colours would also assist our seniors and those visually impaired.
Future events of course could be coordinated through economic development department activities, government grants, and personal input 
We are all aware of the valuable contributions the LGBT makes to our community. Our country has come a long in recognizing various groups that have been persecuted and ridiculed, those days are past. Inclusion, acceptance, and respect for fellow human beings is what makes our country so great and envied by the world.
Mike Corrigan
​Yes, I would support a rainbow crosswalk in Pembroke.
By actually promoting it as a 3 day festival with activities at our parks and facilities.
Educate our community; take the lead from other communities who use a communication tool such as Pride Understanding.
Paul Kelly
Yes
​Attend local event as Mayor. Appear in any and all material to promote activity. Attend Ottawa Toronto Montreal events to promote Pembroke event.
​ZERO tolerance for hate or speech/activities that promote hate, intimidation, marginalization of any group. Foster positive atmosphere, acceptance of all groups.
​"The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation" Pierre Trudeau.
Ryan Slaughter
​Yes, of course I would support a rainbow crosswalk in Pembroke.
​Some ideas that come to mind for the City to help promote and expand the annual Pride Festival to attract more participants from Pembroke and across Renfrew County would be to create more awareness of the event itself and involve more businesses and community groups and in return generate more participants. 
​Ideas and comments regarding a safe and inclusive community for LGBTQ youth and adults would be to have an LGBTQ Community Centre with resources available for everyone to encourage a supportive community that welcomes everyone. 
Adam Lesco
I support a rainbow crosswalk. It would look beautiful downtown and Pembroke could lead the way in the county on this. However, I would not support the use of taxpayer money for it. This has nothing to do with the cause and is a mere reflection of my fiscal approach to how the city spends its money. I would happily make a contribution and assist with the fundraising needed to make this happen. 
​I think the City can be a direct partner in promoting and hosting your events, not just the annual walk. Getting more councillors to champion your events would help foster a welcoming atmosphere. I'd also be interested to hear your answer on this as well, since you likely have better idea as to what the City, myself included, can do to help make your events more successful. I'm always open to new ideas. 
I think as local leaders, we need to lead by example and be visible champions of LGBTQ rights in our community. When you have people of influence participating and advocating for a cause, it helps raise awareness and inspires other to do the same.

​You may already be doing this, but I think it would be beneficial if your group hosted more events or supportive gatherings that could provide a safe space for individuals, their families and friends to express themselves and learn more about the LGBTQ community. By teaming up with the city, we can all work together toward a more inclusive Pembroke.  Forming partnerships and hosting events in coordination with other local community groups would help expand your reach and increase your visibility for the LBGTQ cause in Pembroke and throughout the valley. 
Andrew Plummer
​I certainly would. I see this as an opportunity to involve other groups as well. Working with the PBIA I'm sure there would be interest to paint other cross walks. This would continue the beautification of downtown and could be a tourist draw. We already have many historic murals, why not have some painted cross walks as well. 
​Well the city has a large contact list and I believe that the city could assist with reaching out to other municipalities and other contacts or help facilitate the continued expansion of the festival. 
​As I have personally been a financial supporter of the festival and hosted a drag night starring Dixie, I feel that having other events throughout the year can bring more people together. I look forward to participating and being part of a more inclusive community in 2019. 
LAST UPDATE: Sept. 24 at 8:58 pm