Kamloops Airport officials unveiled the new rainbow crosswalk at the building's arrival entrance. Kamloops Pride representatives and city hall officials were present during the ribbon cut.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS — Passengers travelling to and from Kamloops Airport will now receive a colourful welcome. Airport officials unveiled the city’s new rainbow crosswalk this morning, April 13, in front of the airport’s main entrance.

“Here at Kamloops Airport, we are in the business of providing a warm welcome,” says Airport Managing Director, Heather McCarley. “Whether they live in the community or whether they are visitors to Kamloops.”

McCarley was also joined by Kamloops Pride President, Kirsten McLaughlin who expressed her gratitude of the airport’s support of the LGBTQ community.

“It really just highlights diversity and I’m honoured to be apart of this,” McLaughlin says, adding that this is the first rainbow crosswalk outside Thompson Rivers University.

Kamloops councillor Tina Lange says the crosswalk is a great step for the community.

“Here in Kamloops we promote acceptance and tolerance,” Lange says. “If you don’t agree with those things, then you’re in the wrong community.”

Last month, Merritt City Council rejected a proposed rainbow sidewalk. A group of high school students from Merritt Secondary School had been planning to have the crosswalk painted near the school to show support to LGBTQ groups in the area. However the city's mayor told councillor's he was concerned that approving a painted sidewalk for one group could start result in other group’s wanting a painted sidewalk to reflect their organization.

The location of the Kamloops Airport crosswalk was brought forward to Mayor Ken Christian during a Kamloops Airport Authority Society meeting last fall.

“The discussion came from me in September, and he thought ‘Why not, it’s a great idea,” she says. "It'll hopefully be the first impression visitors have of our city."

The city currently has four other rainbow crosswalks at Thompson Rivers University, this is the first crosswalk painted outside the university campus.

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