Residents came to Township City Hall on July 21 expecting a debate. By the end of the meeting, there had been no vote, no apology, and no explanation. Just a withdrawn motion and a room full of people trying to understand what almost happened to our community. Councillor Tim Baillie added a late item to the agenda: a proposal to remove Fort Langley’s rainbow crosswalk. The motion suggested replacing it with a heritage-themed design and relocating the rainbow colours, possibly in front of City Hall. He pulled back his motion before it could be discussed. It never reached the floor. However, to many of us, it still landed.

The crosswalk was installed in 2017 at the corner of Glover and Mary. It was funded by the Fort Langley BIA and local artist Elaine Brewer-White. It has since become a quiet but central symbol of inclusion in our village. Over the years, it has also been repeatedly targeted; tire marks from burnouts have damaged it more than once. Cameras were installed after an incident in 2023, and Township staff have repainted it several times. It was not the first or last rainbow crosswalk to be vandalized, but it was the first time Langley residents had to fight to keep it.

The motion to remove it came without warning or input from the public. The Langley Pride Society was not consulted on this matter. Residents posted online that they only found out days before the meeting. A number of them showed up at City Hall that Monday to observe our elected representatives debate the issue, but they never got the chance.

“I was disturbed,” one resident wrote. “Why does it bother someone that it’s there?”

Another reflected: “This would be a major loss to the community.”

The rationale offered was maintenance costs and the idea that the crosswalk no longer fit with Fort Langley’s heritage aesthetic character. Residents noted that no public input was sought, and that the rainbow design sits in front of a property slated for development. That project, known as Glover Mary Church, is being developed by Fort Langley Properties, a company linked to Mayor Woodward. The mayor has denied involvement in the motion. Still, many were left wondering why it was introduced in the first place. Councillor Baillie eventually acknowledged that he did not consult the Pride Society early enough and said that he was persuaded by “reasonable and rational voices” to pull the motion. In the same breath, he warned critics not to “coerce or bully” him, suggesting that if they did, he would be less inclined to reconsider. To some, it sounded like a threat directed at our community from a person who they placed their trust in to represent their best interests.

While Baillie officially introduced the motion, its quiet arrival and quiet withdrawal drew attention to his political relationship with Mayor Woodward. The two have consistently voted together and have previously worked closely, including when Baillie publicly defended Mayor Woodward’s decision to sole-source the $11.5 million firetrucks without a competitive bid. While other councillors raised concerns about process and accountability, Baillie stood firmly behind the mayor, calling the procurement justified and opposing any further scrutiny.

This is not the first time the Woodward-majority council has acted without public notice or input. In late 2023, the mayor’s slate quietly removed Councillor Barb Martens from all of her Metro Vancouver appointments. Martens said she was not informed in advance. No reason was given at the meeting. No replacement names were put forward. The removal was only evident later through Metro Vancouver committee rosters, with no public discussion held by Township Council. The move drew criticism for its opaqueness and fit the noted pattern of closed-door decisions that have become a norm of Township policy making. The rainbow crosswalk has become more than a visual statement. To many, it is proof that inclusion does not need to be loud to be visible. That even in a town built on heritage, some things deserve to be seen.

The motion was pulled. But the unease has not gone anywhere and grew significantly. Given prior conduct, we can expect another roundabout approach to steal the rainbow.