“I was sitting on the bus going in front of the school,” recalled Kaitlyn Kelly, adding she saw the various flag flying. “I thought it would be so cool to have the Pride flag with all the other flags.”
So Kelly took the idea to school principal Mike Haczkewicz.
Haczkewicz said he recalled Kelly coming into his office terming her “a lady on a mission.”
On that first visit Kelly told her principal she was “so proud we fly the Pride flag,” but was “hoping we can do more.”
Kelly wanted a permanent flag pole because YRHS was an “inclusive school 365 days a year,” he said.
But some investigation determined a flag pole would cost $7000, which shelved the idea.
“Little did I know the wheels were still turning,” said Haczkewicz.
The new idea was a wall installation much like the one already on the school marking it as the basketball venue of a former Saskatchewan Summer Games.
With some help from the shop instructor to fashion the ‘flag’ and the Rainbow Club – a group of 20-30 students actively supporting inclusion at the school -- pitching in to paint, the installation became a reality unveiled today (Wednesday).
“Kelly did all the groundwork” toward making the flag “a permanent part of the landscape in the land of orange,” said Haczkewicz.
Kelly praised her principal for being very supportive of her idea.
“I’m so proud our administration has been so supportive. There were never any obstacles administration wise,” said Kelly.
Various student’s comments regarding the installation includes;
* “The flag being on the school is important to me because it means I have a safe place to be who I am and feel accepted in my identity.”
* “Being on the school is a symbol of progress. The fact that we are even putting a flag so ‘out there’ shows how far the LGBTQ2+ movement has come.”
* “Is a symbol of acceptance and change in our community. It shows we are trying to be an accepting group and anyone of any identity is welcome here.”
* “Shows people that they are not alone. That they are surrounded by people just like them.”
