Their Pride flag has been vandalized 4 times. Now this Nova Scotia company is inundated with support

Owners of a store in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley say they were overwhelmed with community support after speaking out about the destruction of pride flags they displayed on their business.

Sue Littleton and her partner Candice Zaina bought the building in Lawrencetown last summer and earlier this month opened the Bees Knees General Store and Bakery, where they sell « a little of this and a little of that ». .

While the business has recently been the target of repeated acts of vandalism targeting its Pride flag, Littleton said the positive response from the community has been far more powerful than the negativity.

« It was very clear that a message was being sent to us, but what we found out was that the community just showed us so much love and support, » Littleton said.

The company a long-time dream

Although Littleton and Zaina moved to Nova Scotia from Hamilton, Ontario, Littleton’s family roots are in Nova Scotia. Her father grew up in Lawrencetown and she spent much of her childhood in the area.

When Littleton was growing up, the space that currently houses their business was a green grocer.

« I always had a vision to kind of resurrect this space, so when we saw it go on sale, we started plotting, » she told CBC. Main Street.

When the couple came to Nova Scotia for their honeymoon last spring, they began to take steps to realize their dream and took over the building in June. Shortly after taking possession, the couple raised an LGBTQ Pride flag.

« It’s important for us to represent our community and signify that we are a safe space. »

The problems started as the opening approached

For a while they had no problems. Then, a few weeks before the store opened on December 7, the couple went out one morning to find that the flag had been torn.

« And we thought, well, they’re just mischievous kids in the middle of the night or we haven’t thought about it too much, » Littleton said. « And then it happened again and again and then another time. »

In total, the flag was vandalized four times, including on Christmas Eve when the couple found the pride flag and a Mi’kmaq flag had been torn off and left on the ground with human excrement on it.

« There was clearly a message being sent to us. »

The RCMP are currently investigating the wrongdoing, although police said in a statement that « investigators are aware that these incidents may constitute a hate crime. »

Littleton and Zaina also added security cameras.

« Incredible » demonstration of solidarity

Littleton said that after posting their experiences on social media, the community sent a much stronger message of support.

« Love far outweighs the tiny bit of hate. »

On social media and in person, people have reached out to say they’re glad the company exists. Littleton said a father drove up from Canning, Nova Scotia, with his child, who had just been released, to visit the store.

The Gay Straight Alliance at Middleton Regional High School sent a card expressing their support and affirming the importance of having gay adults in the area.

One customer even brought stickers he had made with the store’s logo.

« It’s just an incredible show of love and togetherness, » Littleton said.

The message of love trumps hate

Zaina, who mainly grew up in cities, said the show of support from all walks of life – from long-time residents to young people – was « incredible ».

« I’ve never experienced this in my life. Support has come from all kinds of different demographics. »

Littleton said that before moving to Lawrencetown, some people wondered about the reception they would receive moving to a small town. But Littleton said narrow-mindedness can exist anywhere.

« We’ve had more bullying in the big cities than we’ve ever had here, and it’s so important for us to show that bullying won’t work on us, we’re much stronger than that. «