logo
Saskatchewan RCMP investigating after ‘hateful symbol' painted on rainbow sidewalk

Saskatchewan RCMP investigating after ‘hateful symbol' painted on rainbow sidewalk

Toronto Star18 hours ago

TISDALE - RCMP say they're investigating after they say a 'hateful symbol' was painted on a rainbow crosswalk in a Saskatchewan town.
Mounties say they believe the crosswalk, painted in celebration of Pride month, was vandalized earlier this week in Tisdale, northeast of Saskatoon.
An image posted to social media shows a black swastika had been painted on the crosswalk.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
A statement from Chief Administrative Officer Lovely Magnaye says the town is disappointed by the matter and is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Towns and cities across Saskatchewan, Canada and the world mark Pride month to recognize those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
'Let's stand together against this kind of behaviour and continue to take pride in the place we all call home,' Magnaye said in the town's statement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

4 youth charged with arson after fire in Taloyoak, Nunavut
4 youth charged with arson after fire in Taloyoak, Nunavut

CBC

time12 hours ago

  • CBC

4 youth charged with arson after fire in Taloyoak, Nunavut

RCMP in Taloyoak, Nunavut, have charged four girls with arson in connection to a fire at the community's old home economics building. In a news release Friday afternoon, RCMP said officers responded to a complaint at about 6:35 p.m. on June 8 that the building was on fire. The Taloyoak Fire Department arrived on scene to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings. After an investigation, police say they charged four girls, aged 12 to 14. No injuries were reported. RCMP thanked community members who helped provide officers with critical information and encouraged parents to speak with children about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters.

Surrey, B.C., police launch team to counter extortions in South Asian community
Surrey, B.C., police launch team to counter extortions in South Asian community

CBC

time13 hours ago

  • CBC

Surrey, B.C., police launch team to counter extortions in South Asian community

Social Sharing A series of reports of extortion from people and businesses in the South Asian community have prompted a wider investigation by police in Surrey, B.C. The Surrey Police Service said in a statement that it is working with provincial and national RCMP to help in their investigations, as numerous Canadian police agencies have reported similar crimes. Police said they've had 10 complaints over the last six months of people getting letters, phone calls or social media messages demanding money under threats of violence. The service said it has launched its own extortion investigations team and will be attending a public safety forum on Sunday in the city organized by members of the South Asian community. It's to be held at Reflections banquet hall on 152A Street at 2 p.m. Forum organizer Satish Kumar, the president of the city's Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple, is also announcing a $100,000 reward to encourage the community to help bring an end to the extortion and violence. WATCH | Surrey police investigating after shootings targeted at businesses: Surrey police investigating possible extortion attempt after shootings targeted at businesses 2 days ago Duration 2:09 Police in Surrey say they are investigating whether two shootings targeting businesses in the city are linked to possible extortion attempts. As Sohrab Sandhu reports, it comes just months after several incidents across the country, which led to the formation of a national RCMP task force. "I'm requesting the community [to] come forward," he told CBC News. "Don't be scared of these guys, right? They don't want to kill you. They want only money from you guys." Kumar said two recent shootings at his businesses are connected to ongoing extortion attempts targeting the South Asian community. He said he received video voicemails on May 28 from numbers listed as being from Italy and New Zealand that demanded $2 million. He said he refused to pay and reported it to police at the time, but officials took no action. In the early hours of June 7, shots were fired at Reflections banquet hall, which he owns, he said. Shots were fired, he said, at another business he's connected to, Hub Insurance, on Tuesday. No one was injured in the shootings at the businesses. Extortion threats emerged last year and violence that followed included arsons and shootings, which police in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. said were linked to organized crime in the Indian state of Punjab. Surrey police Chief Norm Lipinski said it's important to tackle the extortion trend head-on, but it's equally important to collaborate with victims and the broader community to deal with it together. RCMP Chief Supt. Wendy Mehat, with the Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, said they are concerned there may be more victims who have complied with demands and haven't gone to police.

Tisdale mayor personally offering $1000 to double reward for info about vandalized crosswalk
Tisdale mayor personally offering $1000 to double reward for info about vandalized crosswalk

CTV News

time14 hours ago

  • CTV News

Tisdale mayor personally offering $1000 to double reward for info about vandalized crosswalk

The Town of Tisdale is not only condemning vandalism that defaced a Pride crosswalk with a black swastika, it's also offering a $2,000 reward to find who is responsible. 'The first thing that goes through your mind is how disappointed I am in these individuals who acted before they even thought about what they actually did. They didn't think it through,' Mayor Roy Skoglund said. Pictures posted to social media show a Pride crosswalk painted by Tisdale Middle and Secondary School students, in collaboration with Suncrest College, earlier in the week was vandalized and noticed by people walking into work on Thursday. The town is offering $1,000 for information that leads to charges, but that's not enough for Skoglund, who is putting up $1,000 of his own money to double the reward to $2,000. 'It just hits home with me,' Skoglund. 'I'm really disappointed.' Rainbow crosswalk (Photo: Tisdale Rant and Rave/Facebook) Tisdale RCMP are investigating and believe the swastika was painted sometime between 9:45 p.m. Wednesday night and 4 a.m. Thursday morning. The vandalism is being met with shock and disappointment across the community. 'For my kids to come and see that swastika — there was no need. I don't know. I can't understand the mentality of the person that would think that that's a good thing,' resident Bruce Chafe said after walking by the swastika that had since had a vehicle parked overtop of it with signs saying 'Together we are better' written on the windows. 'There would be no explanation that I would accept.' Skoglund said a company was being paid to sandblast the graffiti and Pride flag Friday afternoon. There are no immediate plans to repaint the Pride flag, but the town will follow the students' lead once they come to a decision. Regardless of what they decide, Stacy Lair, the director of education for North East School Division, doesn't want the students to be discouraged by the vandalism. 'They want to feel belonging and inclusion in our schools and our system,' she said. 'And that's something we'll continue to work towards and support them to see past something that's really atrocious like this.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store