Indigenous community members concerned after crosses pulled from memorial display in Kitchener park

Organizers are looking for answers after a display for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was tampered with. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is investigating after a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation memorial display in a Kitchener, Ont., park was tampered with.

According to police, 20 out of 215 crosses commemorating the mistreatment of children at residential schools were pulled out of the ground and piled up in Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon.

“The investigation is ongoing and includes exploring any potential hate-motivation,” a statement from police said.

Members of The Healing of the Seven Generations, an Indigenous-led community support group, said they were shocked to hear what happened.

“To find out that they’ve been taken out of the ground and piled up like that, for whatever reason, is very disrespectful,” Donna Dubie, the group’s executive director, said.

The crosses are part of an annual display and represent the suspected remains of Indigenous children discovered at a former residential school in British Columbia.

“The crosses represent (that) this is not going away, and it’s not going to stop until all the children are found,” said Dubie.

The removal of the crosses left questions for Dubie.

“Do they not believe it?” asked Dubie. “I can’t even fathom what is the reasoning behind why they’ve done this.”

The scene also upset others visiting the park.

“I’m feeling the emotion because every cross represents one life, right?” said Jocelyn Medina, who’s visiting Kitchener for the first time. “And no matter what, we should respect it.”

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Police were on scene Monday morning to speak with group members and parkgoers.

“Whether it ends up being an act of vandalism or a hate crime, we won’t know until they’ve done their investigating,” said Dubie.

Dubie also encouraged whoever was behind the act to come forward and apologize.

“We can provide you with some sort of knowledge and understanding as to why we’re doing this,” she said.

In the meantime, the group said they’re moving forward and they hope the community will rally in support, as they mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday.

“It’s not going to dampen our day,” said The Healing of the Seven Generation’s Serena Wesley. “We’re still going to push forward and have an amazing walk. Because we have to do that for their children.”

The annual ‘Remember Me’ Walk from The Healing of the Seven Generations through Kitchener to Victoria Park will take place Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., starting at 300 Frederick St.