A number of monuments in the heart of uptown Saint John, N.B., have been the target of vandalism in recent days. A number of plaques on memorials in King’s Square, including the War Memorial, have been ripped from the cement, including plaques honouring Canadian troops for their efforts in the Second World War and Afghanistan. Other key monuments that were damaged include that of Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, one of the Fathers of Confederation, and Olympic speed skater Charles Gorman. “This type of vandalism is extremely unfortunate, particularly given the significance of these memorials to veterans, families, and the broader community,” the City of Saint John told CTV Atlantic in an email. “Staff are assessing the affected sites, and the damaged plaques will be replaced in due course.” The city said they are working with police and other community partners to learn more about the vandalism. The vandalism wasn’t exclusive to plaques in King’s Square. A number of plaques have also been taken along the popular Harbour Passage walking trail. Eric Savoie, one of the ward councillors for the uptown area, says his initial reaction to learning about the vandalism was “a bit disappointed.” “You hate to see these things happen and learn of these things,” Savoie says, adding the thefts are a reflection of some of the broader challenges being faced around the province. “Going forward, I think we need to continue to do what we are doing as a city. We are working with our provincial partners and federal government to make sure that we understand the needs and the community and make sure that we’re continuing to address the gaps together.” He is appealing to whoever took the plaques to bring them back. “These plaques are really important to all of us, and hopefully including them,” Savoie says. “Whether they leave them here where they found them or return them through other means, I know many people in Saint John, myself included, would be grateful to have these plaques.” The increased vandalism around the uptown core isn’t exclusive to plaques. Saint John police are asking public for help as they investigate multiple graffiti incidents in the uptown area. Officers spotted graffiti and tags that hadn’t been reported at 25 different locations in the area. Uptown resident Denise Gallant says she has had her housed tagged twice, including earlier this week. “I live in an old brick historic home, so it’s not as easy to take the graffiti away,” she says. “It’s really heartbreaking.” She questions why people are doing these acts, and what they have to gain from it. Allen Cobbett admits he hasn’t seen the vandalism as much as others. He says unfortunately no matter what rules are in place, there will always be those who break them. “You can have as many cameras as you want, but it’s unfortunately I think just the price of doing business,” Cobbett believes. “If you’re going to have an open park or walkway for people to walk and enjoy, you’re going to have, unfortunately, some things happen.” With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Lauren Roulston. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
