Around 100 people showed up at Lunenburg Town Hall last night to show their support for Farley and Courtney Blackman.
Farley Blackman is pulling his company FARBLACK out of Lunenburg after several disagreements with the town.
Local business owner Kelly-Sue O’Connor organized the rally to let the Blackmans know residents are behind them.
“They’re bringing jobs to our town. So I wanted to show to council that we’re supporting them and we want them to stay.”
She says the Blackman’s enterprises improve business for everyone.
“It’s actually going to help bring traffic to that end of Montague where’s there’s actually not as much traffic as the rest of town. So it’s actually a big deal. If he can’t open his business, I’m going to be losing business as well, so I wanted to support them.”
Mayor Rachel Bailey spoke at the rally and apologized to Blackman and the community at large, for some of her actions over the past week.
“I said something that was unkind. It may have been said with the best of intentions, but nonetheless, it didn’t change the fact that it was an unkind thing to say to a fellow citizen and I needed to apologize for that.”
Bailey says it speaks well of the community that so many people showed up to offer their support.
“I hope he takes heart in that, and appreciates that that speaks volumes. And, that maybe he’ll reconsider his decision to leave the community.”
Mayor Rachel Bailey addresses rally outside @TownLunenburgNS town hall pic.twitter.com/vRb6QHwhtW
— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) August 22, 2017
Farley Blackman took time to address the crowd saying he was grateful for the encouragement.
Regardless of his decision to leave, he hopes to see changes in how the town deals with developers.
Farley Blackman addressing members of the rally of support outside @TownLunenburgNS town hall pic.twitter.com/TOkwFitz5i
— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) August 22, 2017
