Vandals left their mark on one of SummerlandB次元官网网址檚 two rainbow crosswalks on the weekend.
On Saturday, Aug. 26, an anti-Black racial slur was painted on the crosswalk on Main Street at Kelly Avenue. Municipal crews quickly responded to paint over the slur and restore the crosswalk.
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The two rainbow crosswalks B次元官网网址� one on Main Street and one on Victoria Road North B次元官网网址� were installed in early September, 2015 as a show of support for those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Coun. Erin Trainer, who promoted the crosswalks in 2015, is disappointed with the recent vandalism.
B次元官网网址淭o me, these crosswalks represent the best things in our community,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey represent our values.B次元官网网址�
Graham Statt, SummerlandB次元官网网址檚 chief administrative officer, said other vandalism had been going on in the community around the same time as the crosswalk was defaced. Crews were able to respond quickly to cover up the graffiti. However, the time and effort in such clean-up work comes at a cost to the municipality.
B次元官网网址淚t takes time away from other work,B次元官网网址� he said.
He added that the crosswalk is scheduled to be repainted later this year.
The defacing of the crosswalk is not the first time a display of hate has been shown in Summerland during this calendar year.
In early June, graffiti with a racial slur was spray-painted on a wall at Summerland Secondary School and at a wall at the schoolB次元官网网址檚 tennis courts, near the communityB次元官网网址檚 Truth and Reconciliation mural.
Then, in early July, a Pride flag at Summerland United Church was ripped down from the church building.
Statt said the vandalism of the rainbow crosswalk might not have been a statement of racism or intolerance to the Pride community. He added that the identity of the person or people responsible is not known, nor whether those responsible for the vandalism are residents or visitors to the community.
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