Montague businessman offering free Pride signs after town refuses to fly flag

An Island sign manufacturer is offering 30 free Pride signs to Montague, P.E.I.,area residents and businesses.

Mike Savidant, general manager of Sign Craft lives in the Montague area, was upset to hear that the town of Montaguewon't be flying a rainbow Pride flag next week.

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"All these communities are celebrating pride week next week, for one of the largest towns in P.E.I. not to be celebrating it just seems ludicrous to me."

Policy disappointing

The town of Montague has a policy not to fly any flags. Town officials say the Pride flag is no exception, a decision Savidant said is behind the times.

"It just seemed to bother me, the apparent closed-mindedness of the town. It almost seems like their reaction to not acknowledge Pride Week means that it doesn't exist, and I just thought that wasn't fair."

On Wednesday morning, Savidant got to work designing a Pride sign just for Montague. He's offering the first 30 signs for free. After that, anyone who wants one can order one for $20 plus tax. But Savidant says it's not about the money.

"It's just about raising awareness and starting the conversation and letting the town council of Montague know just because you don't want to acknowledge something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Positive response

Savidant saidhe's already received a tremendous response from community members asking for signs and all the feedback he's received so far as been positive.

The signs will be available for pick-up at The Juice Box, a cafe in Montague owned by Jana Furness. She hopes that making Pride signs available will help foster acceptance and support in her community.

"I just did what I thought was right for the community and the organization," said Furness.

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