Ryder’s Rainbow generates pot of gold

Ryder’s Rainbow has generated enough money to install two rainbow crosswalks in Norfolk County.

The fund-raising campaign, named after 10-year-old LGBTQ+ advocate Ryder Mandryk, of Simcoe, has received enough donations to cover the cost of the original crosswalk in Simcoe this summer and a crosswalk for Port Dover, possibly by the end of September .

“I want to thank the community for its support in getting the crosswalk in Simcoe done,” Ryder said last week adding that well over $20,000 has been raised so far.

Ryder shared the news when asked about the rainbow crosswalk in Simcoe, which is scheduled to be installed within the next two weeks.

Preparation work for the bright, multi-coloured walkway at Union Street and Norfolk Street North in Simcoe was expected to begin earlier this week. Installation was expected to follow either later this week or early in the week of June 19.

“It has been a long journey and it has been a tough journey,” Ryder said of the effort to get a Rainbow Crosswalk in Simcoe. “It’s just tough having to do interviews all the time and going to council meetings.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long to get this done.”

Ryder initiated efforts to get a rainbow crosswalk in Simcoe two years ago after learning a crosswalk in Paris, ON had been vandalized.

Ryder’s campaign included appearances at Norfolk County council and media interviews.

Although county council agreed to support the project, the installation would have to be funded with money raised through donations not taxpayer dollars.

Council also brought in a policy that all future decorative crosswalks should be considered only if the requesting group could pay for them.

Council’s decision led to the Ryder’s Rainbow fund-raising campaign, which received a huge $10,000 boost from the Hellyer Foundation.

Ryder is looking forward to the installation and unveiling of the rainbow crosswalk in Simcoe.

“It’s going to mean a lot to me,” Ryder said. “I’m going to be happier because we will have a lot more LGBTQ+ individuals coming to Simcoe to live here.

“It will definitely bring in more LGBTQ+ people here, who will want to stay here and be part of the community.”

Ryder said the fund-raising campaign was successful because people like her, who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, know the crosswalk will help them feel like they are part of the community,

Although the exact date for the installation and unveiling of the crosswalk hasn’t been determined, Ryder, family, friends and supporters are planning to hold a celebration at Lynnwood Park on the big day.

While she is looking forward to the celebration, Ryder said she is also looking forward to the day when she won’t have to do media interviews or attend council meetings just to help people feel part of the community.

Ryder has had strong support from people in the community. One of her biggest supporters has been Adam Veri, a past-president of the Port Dover Board of Trade who helped Ryder prepare for council meetings and did a lot of the behind the scenes work to boost her efforts.

Veri was elected to Norfolk County Council representing Ward 6 in the 2022 municipal election.

Most municipalities have taken it upon themselves to put in rainbow crosswalks to send a message about being an inclusive community. It’s unfortunate that Ryder and supporters in the community had to raise the money themselves, Veri said.

However, their efforts have gained a lot of support throughout the community.

“This is growing and we’ll continue to do this ourselves for as long as we have to,” Veri said.

The amount raised through Ryder’s Rainbow is closer to $30,000 including money raised and pledges of support, Veri said.

If all goes according to play, the Port Dover Rainbow Crosswalk could be installed, likely at the Chapman Street and Main Street intersection, by the end of September.

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