More than 100 plants were yanked from landscaping at Lakewood elementary school last Friday and Saturday nights in brazen acts of vandalism.

Leaving cratered and pockmarked earth in their wake, a vandal or vandals tossed plants around the grounds and onto the schoolB次元官网网址檚 roof. The new garden was planted in September and abuts the new playing field.

B次元官网网址淭his took place over two nights. They came on the 16th and then came back on the 17th,B次元官网网址� said Pete Godau, SD 62 manager of facilities. B次元官网网址淚t is very disrespectful. ItB次元官网网址檚 disrespectful for all of the students that come to the school.B次元官网网址�

After the first night a neighbour of the school saw the mess and collected the scattered plants, put them in trays and brought them to his house, said SD 62 superintendent Jim Cambridge.

After the second night of damage the same man again collected the plants, and even brought a ladder to the school and retrieved the plants from the roof. B次元官网网址淗e was very helpful, we have saved a lot of the plants,B次元官网网址� Godau said.

SD 62 staff have recovered the plants from the man, who hasnB次元官网网址檛 been named. The deciduous plants are dormant and cannot be replanted until the weather is warmer.

B次元官网网址淪taff have repotted them and will try to replant them,B次元官网网址� Cambridge said.

When schools are closed for winter holidays, SD 62 maintenance and grounds workers are on jobs they canB次元官网网址檛 do when the students are in class.

For cases such as this, it takes staff hours away from valuable work that needs to be done, Godau said.

B次元官网网址淭he problem is the vandalism cuts into our resources,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e already have very limited resources in that department.B次元官网网址�

Anyone with information can call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com