‘Hate has no place here’: Mayor of Smiths Falls, Ont., condemns graffiti on town property

Images shared by the Town of Smiths Falls, Ont. show graffiti on town property, including a Pride crosswalk and a gazebo. (Town of Smiths Falls/release)

The mayor of Smiths Falls is condemning what he called “deeply disturbing” graffiti that appeared on town property on Thursday.

Mayor Shawn Pankow shared a statement to say he was “beyond disappointed” by the act.

“The Town is working closely with the Smiths Falls Police Service to identify those responsible, and we will pursue accountability through all appropriate avenues. This behaviour will not be tolerated in our community,” he wrote.

Photos shared by the Town of Smiths Falls showed graffiti on a Pride crosswalk and on the gazebo outside Town Hall. The words were blurred, but Pankow called the graffiti discriminatory and intolerant.

The vandalism was quickly cleaned up, he said.

“Town staff acted quickly (Thursday) morning to begin removing the graffiti and restoring the affected areas. I want to sincerely thank them for their hard work and swift response in helping keep our downtown welcoming and reflective of the caring community we know Smiths Falls to be,” Pankow said.

The Town of Smiths Falls installed two rainbow crosswalks at the corner of Church Street and Beckwith Street in 2023. The crosswalks have been the target of vandalism before.

Pankow said the vandalism goes against what the town stands for.

“Smiths Falls stands for respect, inclusion, and kindness. Hate has no place here, and we will continue to stand together as a community in support of one another.”

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