Efforts underway to make Oxford County more welcoming
People walk down the street in Tillsonburg, Ont. on July 6, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
A new effort is underway to make Oxford County more welcoming and inclusive for those in marginalized groups.
CTV News has learned that members of the LGBTQ community have begun discussions with community and business leaders on this issue.
A spokesperson told CTV News London one of their goals is to approach Oxford County Council about forming a so-called “allyship.”
It follows a number of high profile acts of vandalism toward the Pride community in Oxford in recent weeks, including the theft of Pride flags in Norwich, the burning of Pride flags at a business in Tillsonburg, and the defacement of a Pride crosswalk in Ingersoll.
Discussions with the group are set to continue this month, before coming up with a formalized plan.
Local resident Joe Morris said he thinks Oxford County should support such a plan to be more inclusive.
“Everybody has a choice to be who they are and where they should be in this life,” he said. “I don’t think anybody grows up and says ‘Gee I think I’ll be gay.’ So give everybody a chance.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A wave of exploding pagers in Lebanon and Syria kills at least 9, including members of Hezbollah
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people -- including an 8-year-old girl -- and wounding several thousand, officials said. They blamed Israel in what appeared to be a sophisticated, remote attack.
After another Liberal loss, Trudeau says there are 'all sorts of reflections' to do
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's going to 'stay focused' on governing after being handed his second byelection upset in recent months.
Why it's 'very hard' to find work in Canada
Vacancies have steadily fallen since the glut of nearly one million open posts in 2022. At the time, one in three businesses had trouble hiring staff due to a labour shortage. Since then, vacancies have dropped.
More non-smokers are getting lung cancer. Here's why and how you can protect yourself, according to a doctor
More people who have never touched a cigarette are getting lung cancer, but there are ways to prevent it, according to a doctor.
Health Canada approves updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Health Canada has authorized Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.
These people say they got listeria after drinking recalled plant-based milks
The Canadian Press spoke to 10 people, from the parents of a toddler to an 89-year-old senior, who say they became sick with listeria after drinking from cartons of plant-based milk stamped with the recalled product code. Here's a look at some of their experiences.
Canada's inflation cools to 2% in August, the smallest gain since early 2021
Canada's annual inflation rate reached the central bank's target in August at it cooled to 2 per cent, its lowest level since February 2021, data showed on Tuesday.
Ontario man who almost fell for text scam issues warning to others
An Ontario man thought he got some good news when he received a text message offering a $30 gift for being a loyal Giant Tiger customer. 'I do go to that store so I clicked on the link and it said it was a customer appreciation award they were going to give people,' Mark Martin, of Simcoe, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.
BREAKING
BREAKING Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs presided over a sordid empire of sexual crimes, coercing and abusing women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
