Resident to Council: "Move the Rainbow Bench"

Robert Thomas

The new rainbow bench on Main Street has caused at least one resident to say it needs to return it’s original colour and she says it has nothing to do with homophobia; it’s all about maintaining the authentic historic look to the Downtown.

Speaking during the public forum portion of Monday night's City Council meeting Anita Jorgenson called for the end of the Main Street rainbow bench in order to maintain the historic esthetics of the Downtown core.

The bench was recently painted in rainbow colours, with the City's permission, by Moose Jaw Pride as a celebration of the LGBTQ community.

Jorgenson said she would like to restore the “rainbow bench to its original colour; the reason why I’m asking is I’m a history buff.”

“in 1893 a monumental decision was made that any buildings constructed from then on in be made of brick and stone,” she said, adding “be very grateful and honour those people.”

Part of that history was the original bench colour, which was part of the historic Downtown which attracted tourists to the city. She said the original colour maintained the character and identity of Moose Jaw's history.

“There’s a broken link in our history now,” Jorgenson told Council.

Despite saying the rainbow bench had no place on Main Street Jorgenson was not against moving it to Crescent Park.

“I believe the rainbow bench is a beautiful symbol...because it’s so colourful it’s more suited to be in Crescent Park.”

Jorgenson asked Council to “leave downtown Moose Jaw alone.”

Crescent Park had “lots of benches suited there for a rainbow, a butterfly, a unicorn or whatever,” she said.

In order to reduce costs and return the bench to its original colour Jorgenson volunteered to do the work herself for the restoration and in a new bench in Crescent Park.

“I’m more than willing to volunteer my time to repaint the bench green.”

She typified the rainbow bench as a “modern trend in 2018” and non-historic.

Because the presentation was scheduled as part of the public forum portion of the meeting Council never asked any questions. The public forum is designed as an informational part of Council without requesting any action on their part.

The rainbow bench sits in front of Rainbow Retro.