Ten-year-old Ryder Mandryk was beaming with pride on Wednesday evening.
She was joined by about 60 people to see – and walk on – the rainbow crosswalk installed earlier in the day at Norfolk St. N. and Union St. in downtown Simcoe.
“I think it’s very pretty and beautiful. I love it so much,” said 10-year-old Maggie Foreman, whose younger brother Mac, age 7, added “It looks like you’re walking on a real rainbow.”
Ryder initiated an effort to get a rainbow crosswalk in Simcoe after seeing one in downtown Paris, Ontario.
“She didn’t understand why we didn’t have one here in Simcoe,” explained her stepfather, Matthew Gunton. “Her goal was to make everyone feel included.”
Gunton said the Ryder’s Rainbow fundraising campaign began two years ago when she was eight years old, after Norfolk council supported the idea, but wasn’t willing to spend taxpayer money on the project.
“To see how excited Ryder is, it makes me happy,” he said. “She has waited a long, long time for this.”
Gunton said he felt like part of the installation on Wednesday because when the contractor’s saw broke, he went home to retrieve his table saw so the project could be completed on time.
“I think they did a really great job,” Ryder said. “It wasn’t only me doing this. I’m really happy that a lot of other people helped support me and I want to say thank you to all the people who donated.”
Jason Mayo, a member of PRIDE Haldimand-Norfolk and a high school teacher in the area, had high praise for the 10-year-old LGBTQ+ advocate.
“Her and I have always talked about how visibility is so important,” he said. “People need to be seen and feel like they have a presence in a community. This is a really small way of showing that we are here and we’re proud of ourselves.”
Ryder’s Rainbow has raised almost $40,000 to date, and plans are underway to have rainbow crosswalks installed in Port Dover, and possibly Waterford, said Mayo.
“So much work and effort went into making sure this was permanent and a really big symbol to the community,” noted the teacher. “It’s something that’s not easy to get rid of, just like us.
“We’re going to spread this rainbow all over the county.”
Mayo said it is gratifying to see children figuring out who they are and seeing a need for visibility in the community.
“When you’re that young and you’re already fighting for other people, that’s a hero right there,” he said. “That’s the future we need.
“When people say that these kids are not a bright future, they’re wrong. This is a testament to that.”
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