A Huron County man is continuing to call on local politicians to denounce the ideology he says is behind a roadside sign that’s caused controversy and conversation in the region for months now.
The sign is posted alongside Highway 21, at one of the most well-traveled entrances into the town of Goderich, Ont., and includes derogatory comments about federal politicians. It also reads “White Lives Matter”.
It’s that message that upsets resident Patrick Corvyn. He’s drafted a petition asking Conservative MP Ben Lobb, Conservative MPP Lisa Thompson and Huron County Warden Glen McNeil to denounce it.
But it’s a petition that has yet to elicit the desired response from those politicians.
“I’m dissatisfied. It’s really reprehensible. It’s shocking, really,” said Corvyn, who has also created a group called No Hate in Huron in response to the sign.
“Unfortunately, we have 3 political representatives … flatly refusing [to denounce white supremacy], or just remaining silent despite numerous calls.”
At the time of publication, the petition had approximately 900 signatures. CBC News contacted Lobb, Thompson and McNeil but did not receive an answer by publication time. This story will be updated if they choose to respond.
“White Lives Matter” is a slogan regularly denounced by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, as well as the American organization fighting anti-Semitism, the Anti-Defamation League. The latter describes it as “a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement.”
The sign, posted on private property since August, belongs to Gord Leamen. He previously declined an interview with Radio-Canada but said in a phone call he has no plans to remove the sign.
Efforts to have sign removed
Some residents who live nearby told Radio-Canada in October that they disagree with the sign’s message, but many were split on what they believe should happen. Some said they want the sign gone, while others said they disagree with the message, but said it’s Leamen’s right to express his opinions.
At a county council meeting on Aug. 14, McNeil, who is also mayor of the nearby community of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, said he called the Ontario Provincial Police, but the force was unable to get rid of the sign because it was on private property.
At the same meeting, council members voted to send a letter to the Ministry of Transportation asking it to intervene.
Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet has denounced the sign and its message on multiple occassions but said it’s not his place to tell other politicians how to conduct themselves.
“That’s not a fair approach on my part. I can comment on what I believe in, and I don’t like the sign,” Bazinet said Friday.
“We have lots of positive things going on in our community in regards to being welcoming to everyone. We have a Pride crosswalk, we celebrate Pride month, we have a Ramadan dinner and a multicultural festival.”
The presence of the sign has also spurred an event this weekend at the Goderich Legion that Corvyn is organizing through his newly founded group No Hate in Huron.
“In the early afternoon we’ll be having a coffee house. There will be poetry reading and musicians and board games, and a really lovely conversation with community leaders,” Corvyn said.
He hopes the event will slash through some of the negativity that’s been cast over the community in recent months. It’s free to attend, and will include a community luncheon, he said.
For the event, members of the Lakeshore United Church created a new sign in the same style as the one on Hwy. 21.
“They have put up this beautiful counter message in the same typographic style. The message they’ve written is ‘Be kind. Respect everyone. Love one another.'”
