UPDATE: Rainbow crosswalk defaced, 
security camera spray-painted

Once again, the Niagara-on-the-Lake rainbow crosswalk at Anderson Lane has been vandalized.

It’s the third time it has been defaced since it was installed in time for Pride Month in June, only this time, in addition to tire marks, there is profanity painted in large letters as well. 

Town staff are investigating, says CAO Marnie Cluckie, as are police, who were notified Sunday evening after staff were alerted to the incident by a resident. It was apparently vandalized around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, and was cleaned by Wednesday morning.

A formal police report was filed Monday morning.

“I was deeply disappointed and saddened to learn about the recent act of vandalism on the town’s rainbow crosswalk,” says Cluckie. 

The first time the crosswalk was vandalized with circular ATV tire marks was less than a week after its installation, after two years of discussion, across the road used to access the NOTL Public Library and the community centre.

The second time was before the town had time to clean it, and included the use of tar.

A short time later a 15-year-old boy from St. Catharines was identified as the suspect. He wasn’t charged criminally, but rather introduced to the “extrajudicial measures program” because of his age, police said.

“The rainbow crosswalk is an important symbol of diversity, inclusivity and acceptance in our community,” says Cluckie.

“This act of vandalism attempts to diminish the spirit of unity the crosswalk represents. It is disheartening to witness such acts in our community, but I hope we will join together as a community once again and not allow such incidents to discourage us.”

The appropriate measures will be taken “to promptly clean the crosswalk, ensuring that it can continue to stand as a powerful symbol of unity and acceptance for all,” Cluckie added.

Town staff discovered the act of vandalism when a resident contacted them Sunday evening, she said. “Upon review of the security footage yesterday, it appears that the vandalism occurred shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday.”

Unfortunately, she added, “it seems that the vandals may have first painted over the security camera.”

Tuesday afternoon, police sent out a news release about the incident, calling it “a belated mischief complaint.”

Police say the suspect climbed the nearby utility pole and used black spray paint to cover the lens of a surveillance camera, and then defaced the crosswalk by spray-painting a profane word and doing a “burnout” that left traction marks.

“There is no suspect or vehicle description currently available,” police say, and detectives are appealing to nearby businesses and residents to review their surveillance footage and report any suspicious behaviour. 

Police are also asking volunteer firefighters who responded to the Anderson Lane fire station for an unrelated call “to recall and report any persons or vehicles that may have seemed out of place.”

Coun. Maria Mavridis, who was alerted to the vandalism on Sunday, speaks of the emails she’s received as a councillor, from people who are angered by the crosswalk. They often mention taxpayers’ dollars being spent on it.

“It cost each taxpayer 86 cents,” Mavridis said. “I’m going to round it up to $1, and tell anyone who wants their money back to come and get it. I’ll give them a loonie.”

She’s surprised by the issues residents get angry about, including a sidewalk on Andres Street, where she lives, that has been installed for safety reasons, and paid for by development charges, not by taxpayers. Some don’t like the sidewalk, others are angry about the side of the street where it’s been installed.

“Every time we try to do something, someone’s going to be angry. There are 19,000 people living here. We can’t make everybody happy.”

The rainbow crosswalk, she says, “represents a small community within our community. Why is that a bad thing? It isn’t. People need to look inside themselves.”

The profanity written on the crosswalk, with a four-letter word followed by U, “is not saying that just to that small community, it’s saying it to the entire community.”

It’s especially difficult to hear comments and receive emails in opposition to the crosswalk from people she has liked and respected, she adds. “That makes it even harder, when you know it’s coming from people in this community. Let’s just be accepting and move on.”

Mavridis speaks of other communities that are dealing with issues such as the opioid crisis and homelessness, problems of which NOTL sees very little.

“How lucky are we to live in this town, not dealing with drug issues or getting people off the street.”

When the biggest problem is a colourful sidewalk, “we need to remember how lucky we are.”

And although Mavridis said she realizes her words won’t change anybody’s mind, she adds, “it’s not their mind that needs changing. It’s their heart.”

Police are asking anyone with information to call 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1007730.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). 

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.