Vancouver lawyers offer parking lot space after Merritt city council rejects rainbow crosswalk proposal

Two Vancouver lawyers have offered up their privateparking lots in Merritt, B.C.,to a group of high school students whose proposal for a rainbow crosswalk was rejected by city council.

When Kyla Lee, one of the property owners, read the original CBC story about council's decision, she was "outraged."

"I thought it was absolutely absurd that the city wasn't going to allow these students to do something that sends a message of inclusivity, not just to the LGBT community, but to everybody," she said.

"I think it's an issue of let's call out the City of Merritt for this silly stupid mistake," said fellow property owner and lawyer Paul Doroshenko.

Lee andDoroshenkowork togetherin Vancouver. They often go to Merrittfor court proceedings, and because property is so expensive in Vancouver, they both wanted to purchase land outside the Lower Mainland.

"I thought if I find some communities inBritishColumbia that maybe will expand one day or there will be some prospects of the property values going up, I'll buy something there," Lee said.

When two adjoining parking lots in Merritt became available a couple of years ago, Lee askedDoroshenkoif he'd buy one, and he agreed.

Lee sent an email to School District 58 on Friday morning to offer the use of her private parking lots.

Having recently spoken with a friend about the struggles her peers faced in high school with coming out, Lee felt this was her opportunity to contribute to theLGBTQcommunity in a positive way.

She toldDoroshenkoabout her plan, and he agreed.

"You've got these lovely high school students who are recognizing the diversity in their own school, recognizing the desire to have greater acceptance of people,"Doroshenkosaid.

"They want to make a statement about it. Why would the city want to discourage these people?"

In addition to the space, Doroshenko said they'd eachgive the students $500 to go towardpainting the pavement.

School board president Gordon Comeau said he's been getting emails and text messages from people all over the province voicing their support for the students and the crosswalk.

"I think it shows that there's a lot more interest and support for the students," he said.

Comeau said the school board will discuss the offer at their next meeting on March 14.

"We'll just weigh all the options and see what's best," he said.

Comeau said with the public response to council's rejection, he hopes council will reconsider and the students will get to have the crosswalk at the intersection of Chapman Street and Coldwater Avenue, close to the high school.

"When people go to Merritt this summer, somewhere in Merritt there's going to be either a rainbow path or rainbow crosswalk, and I'm looking forward to seeing it," Doroshenko said.