WINNIPEG – Nafiya Naso is hoping to become the next city councillor for Winnipeg’s Waverly West district, marking her first run for public office. With fewer than two weeks until election day, Naso has been busy on the campaign trail. But amid the demands of campaigning, she is also navigating challenges that she says have taken time and attention away from her bid for city council. “I’ve had about 45 signs that have been vandalized,” she said. “It is unfortunate.” Her signs have been spray-painted with negative messaging and inappropriate pictures, with some signs reading “Ur not win” and “Loser.” She says her signs are being vandalized every day. “Unfortunately, this has taken a lot of time out of our campaign,” she said. “I have about five volunteers that drive around and babysit these signs. They’re literally babysitting them because every day we have signs that are being torn off fences. They’re being kicked down. They’re being spray painted. This is literally every single day.” Naso isn’t the only candidate in the city dealing with this issue. CTV News recently spoke with Naso’s competitor, Jasmine Brar, who has been dealing with a similar situation. “It’s pretty disturbing, honestly,” Brar told CTV News on Sept. 26. “It looks like somebody just went out with a knife or something. They sliced the signs. They did not just break it. So, it’s very intentional.” Christian Sweryda, who is running for city councillor in the Elmwood East-Kildonan district, recently posted on his social media that his signs were also damaged. “We have noticed that this is the second major incident of signs being vandalized or stolen,” he wrote on social media. “We are going to keep going with the campaign.” A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Police Service told CTV News they are aware of these incidents and that investigations are ongoing. “The WPS take all reports of vandalism seriously and will investigate thoroughly. The public is encouraged to report these incidents so they can be investigated,” said Const. Pat Saydak in a statement. Incidents across the country Similar incidents have been reported by candidates in other communities across the country. Video surveillance captured footage of someone taking a sign off private property in Orangeville, Ont., just northwest of Toronto. Referendum signs in Fort McMurray, Alta. were also damaged with spray paint earlier this month. Political science professor Christopher Adams says election sign vandalism is not new, but he believes the behaviour has become more common in recent years. “I think that’s because people think they have a green light to be out of the proper world of etiquette or of proper behaviour,” said Adams, who works at the University of Manitoba. “There seems to be a bit of an anger sometimes among voters that seeks to find an outlet, and I think that’s unfortunate.” He says there are a few reasons these incidents are taking place. “Social media feeds into extreme views, and I think there are people who feel that their extreme views are acceptable,” he said. ‘Motivates me even more’ As for Naso, she is trying to put all of her energy into running her campaign, instead of letting these incidents distract her. “Every day I hear one or two signs have been knocked down,” she said. “It just motivates me even more to work harder and knock on more doors in the evening.” The Winnipeg civic election is on Oct. 28. With files from CTV News’ Devon McKendrick
