'Why would somebody do this?' Langford Pride crosswalk vandalized one day after completion
Tire burnouts and spray paint have been used to deface a symbol of acceptance and inclusion outside of Spencer Middle School in Langford.
“It makes me feel really disappointed,” said Harry Eves, a Grade 6 student at the school.
“Why would somebody do this?” said Liv Propp, a Grade 8 student.
Both Eves and Propp are part of the school’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Club, often referred to as SOGI.
The club was instrumental in the creation of a crosswalk bearing the design of the Pride Progress flag on the Goldstream Avenue, outside their school. Work began last year to make the project happen.
“They actually had written a letter to the City of Langford,” said Jen Nixon, Principal of Spencer Middle School.
Nixon says in December the school was told by the City of Langford that the crosswalk project had been approved.
On Tuesday, the first half of the crosswalk was painted.
Overnight, it was defaced with a tire burnout from someone's car.
On Wednesday, the second half was completed, and later that night another burnout appeared, followed by the spray paint.
“It just makes me sad,” said Propp.
“I have to be honest, it makes me angry and it makes me frustrated,” said Paul Block, superintendent of schools for the Sooke School District.
Block says he is incredibly proud of what those Spencer Middle School students had a hand in creating.
“Then to see others in our community take the time to desecrate that and destroy that, it is incredibly disappointing,” said Block.
Because the crosswalk is part of permanent city infrastructure, Langford city staff will be out in the coming days to removing the tire tracks and spray paint.
“We are committed to making sure that it stays functional and beautiful for our community,” said Kimberly Guiry, a councillor with the City of Langford.
West Shore RCMP says it is now investigating the vandalism, which could result in a charge of mischief.
“I feel like it makes the group stronger,” said Propp.
The students say they are not going to be dejected and that the senseless vandalism only shows the need for more inclusive projects, throughout the community.
“It lets everyone know that you’re welcome,” said Eves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Loblaw leaders push back on 'misguided criticism' of grocer as boycott begins
Loblaw's new chief executive, as well as chairman Galen Weston, pushed back on what they called 'misguided criticism' of the grocer as a push to boycott the company gains steam online.
TD Bank hit with $9.2M penalty after failing to report suspicious transactions
Canada's financial intelligence agency says it has levied a $9.2-million penalty against The Toronto-Dominion Bank for non-compliance with money laundering and terrorist financing measures as the bank also faces compliance investigations in the U.S.
Orangutan observed treating wound using medicinal plant in world first
Scientists working in Indonesia have observed an orangutan intentionally treating a wound on their face with a medicinal plant, the first time this behavior has been documented.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
There's a limit to how much interest rates in Canada and U.S. can diverge: Macklem
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canadian interest rates don't have to match U.S. or global rates, but there is a limit to how much they can diverge.
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
Doctors concerned about potential spread of bird flu in Canada
H5N1 or avian flu has been detected at dozens of U.S. dairy farms and Canadian experts are urging surveillance on our side of the border too.
B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book
A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.