Chatham-Kent council approves $200K for updates to veterans’ memorials after vandalism
Chatham-Kent council has approved $200,000 to make repairs and upgrades to several veteran memorials across the municipality, including the cenotaph in downtown Chatham.
Coun. Alysson Storey said there was a lot of feedback from concerned citizens regarding security near the cenotaph following recent vandalism that saw swastikas spray-painted on it.
“These are sacred spaces and we have to treat them as such,” Storey said. “They honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. For example our World War Two veterans are in their nineties now. The need for these as memorials to help us remember those sacrifices is as important as it’s ever been.”
Storey said council was also told security cameras could be installed soon.
“I’m glad we’re going to be putting some resources towards enhanced security here,” Storey said.
The Ward 6 councillor explained there are a few different phases to improving the overall security at the cenotaph, noting there is a federal funding program that the municipality can access for help.
Storey also said local business, Honey Electric, has offered to help subsidize some of the work to improve the downtown location.
“We always have really large crowds for Remembrance Day ceremonies and events that honour different battles and different world wars, so we are a community that takes this very seriously, so I am not surprised with the outcry when the graffiti, that swastika was painted on this memorial,” Storey said. “That’s just not acceptable to this community and we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.