Police in north Vancouver are investigating a memorial for residential school survivors that was vandalized on Wednesday.
According to Wilson Williams, an elected councillor for the Squamish Nation, the Jan. 24 discovery was shocking.
“I got a brief update this morning that they are covering all bases in regards to a timeline and time frame,” he says. “When it did happen and hopefully acquiring if there is surveillance video and canvassing the area as well in regards to the possibility of who would have conducted such a violent and distressing.”
A post is all that remains on the right forearm of the male welcome figure – the arm was completely ripped off and is now missing. Along with the missing arm smashed flower vases were also scattered all around.
Even more upsetting is that the destruction of the memorial happened just hours after the Williams Lake First Nation announced 93 potential hidden graves at the former St. Josephs Mission Residential School.
“We are also mindful of the triggering of trauma within our community as well and just bring mindful of everything. That is a possibility that’s something that we will leave up to the investigation,” says Williams.
If anyone has any information on the vandalism that took place at the memorial you are asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP detachment.
Editor’s Note: The original story said the Williams was notified on Jan. 26 of the vandalism. Jan. 24 is the correct date.
