Trudeau becomes first Prime Minister to march in Pride Parade
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made history on Sunday, becoming the first sitting prime minister to take part in the annual Vancouver Pride Parade. Trudeauwas joined by his wife Sophie and the couple’s three children, as well as local Liberal MPs and Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. Trudeau previously marched in the Vancouver Pride Parade in 2014 and 2015 prior to becoming prime minister.
The Vancouver Pride Society estimated close to 500,000 spectators attended the parade. Trudeau walked the length of the parade route, stopping to take photos with many of the spectators.
Last month, Trudeau took part in the Toronto Pride Parade, marking the first time a Canadian prime minister had ever taken part in Pride celebrations.
–Westender staff
City paves the way for Arbutus corridor
City crews have already laid asphalt down on a chunk of the Arbutus Greenway – from 16th to about 25th. The next goal is to pave the segment up to 41st over the next few weeks, and ultimately the whole nine-kilometre route from False Creek to the Fraser River.
Jerry Dobrovolny, the city’s general manager of engineering, said the temporary path is meant to encourage the public to travel along the route in preparation for the launch of the visioning process this fall, which will examine what the corridor can become.
“The goal is to get people using more of the corridor. We’ve heard from people who’ve lived next to the corridor for decades, but still may have walked only one or two blocks,” said Dobrovolny during a Tuesday press conference at the portion by Fir and West Fifth. He notedCanadian Pacific contractorsfinished removing the track ahead of schedule and the asphalt is being put down where the rail used to be. It will be open for public use as each section is completed.
“Our goal is to get people walking much more of it. If you’ve walked two blocks, walk two kilometres. If you’ve walked two kilometres, walk eight kilometres. Experience it, see it and use it. And use that experience when you come to our open houses and involve yourself in our consultation process to design what will be a spectacular facility for the City of Vancouver.”
Dobrovolny maintains the more people have experienced the corridor, and its “amazing vistas,” the better equipped they will be to offer input. At this point, he said the discussion about possibilities is wide open.
“The sky’s the limit,” he said.
–Naoibh O’Connor, Vancouver Courier
