Former Norwich, Ont. councillor welcomed to Toronto Pride month event
A former Norwich, Ont. town councillor took centre stage at a Toronto Pride Month event.
Alisha Stubbs, who resigned last week over what she called “blatant discrimination”, attended the unveiling of a Progress Flag inside 51 Division headquarters of the Toronto Police.
Stubbs' decision came on the heels of a 3-2 vote to ban all non-governmental flags on Norwich Township property.
An earlier motion had specifically mentioned Pride and Progress flags
Among those who voted in favour of the motion was Norwich Mayor Jim Palmer.
CTV News attempted to reach Palmer Thursday with no success.
Back in Toronto, Stubbs expressed no regrets about her decision.
“I stand by the words that I said. We can use our positions of power to do good,” she said.
But in Norwich Thursday, some of her supporters said they are experiencing intimidation.
Jennifer Wild of Norwich Residents for Love and Acceptance is among them.
Jennifer Wild, seen on June 1, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“We’ve felt a little unsafe in the town. We have not been quiet about our beliefs. We haven’t been quiet about why we are angry,” said Wild.
Wild, who wears a cross to express her faith in Christianity, cannot understand why some other followers in Norwich stand against Pride and Progress Flags.
One church offering its full support is Norwich United. It is hosting a Pride service this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Part of their preparations includes a Progress flag. It will soon be secured inside a large boulder at the front steps, so it can't be easily removed.
Over the past months, some Pride and Progress flags and symbols around town have been disappeared.
Pastor Janice Pow of Norwich United Church, as seen on June 1, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
Inside the church, Pastor Janice Pow is mentally preparing to give a sermon about love on Sunday, “Jesus never talked about who not to love. Jesus never said ‘Don’t love that guy. Don’t love that person or woman’.”
While the sermon will be about love and peace, Pastor Pow has safety concerns.
She told CTV News she has been assured police will patrol the church area during the service.
She said it is all part of an effort to take a stand against intimidation.
Norwich United Church, as seen on June 1, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“You can only remain quiet to keep the peace for so long. And then you have to speak up,” she said.
Which, in the minds of many, is exactly what Stubbs did.
While she’s out of office now, she contends her power to fight has only grown.
“With anything to do with safety and inclusion, the fight should never be over until all people feel safe,” said Stubbs.
— With files from CP24s Beatrice Vaisman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.