Town councillors in Antigonish have taken the first step to changing a bylaw regarding the flying of flags at Town Hall.
Councillors received a request to fly a flag for African Heritage Month; they passed a motion to have staff members review and amend the bylaw that only allows the Canadian, Nova Scotia and town flag to fly at Town Hall at December’s regular council meeting Monday night.
After the meeting, Laurie Boucher, the mayor of Antigonish, said staff members should report back by January’s regular council meeting.
“From there, we have to wait, I think it is eight or nine days- we have to give it a waiting time,” she said. “It will be implemented by the last week in January, and ready for our proclamation for African Heritage Month in February.”
Boucher said the change will allow town officials to fly the flag of any group or organization in the future.
“We won’t be able to discriminate, and I don’t think there’s anybody on council that wants to,” she said. “I believe that this a big change in policy- we’re a very inclusive and diverse community, and we want to show that.”
The request to council came from members of African Heritage Month Zone 7, some of whom attended Monday’s meeting.