WINDSOR, ONT. -- Town of Lakeshore officials say they are very disappointed in the racial slur on a pathway between two schools.

Essex County OPP say sometime overnight between Sunday and Monday, someone used blue spray paint to write a racial slur on the walkway between St. William's Elementary School and St. Anne's High School.

“This is a very upsetting situation and we have zero tolerance for racism,” said Lakeshore mayor Tom Bain.

OPP are investigating the matter and Bain hopes anyone with information will come forward.

A Lakeshore crew was dispatched Tuesday to ensure the slur is covered up and blended into the pavement.

“I’ve been here in politics for over 40 years, I’ve seen nothing like this before,” Bain said. “Terrible, such a thing.”

The town has several policies and procedures in place dealing with racism including:

  • Vandalism and Violence in Facilities
  • Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy and Procedure
  • Workplace Code of Conduct

“Training and awareness programs on Human Rights and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is embedded into the town’s orientation process and the municipal culture,” a news release from the town condemning the incident stated.

Lakeshore resident Camille Armour found out about the spray paint through a friend’s Facebook post Monday morning.

She found the incident, “shocking, disappointing,” and said she was “somewhat mortified.”

“It’s not just graffiti,” Armour said. “It was still racist and it was still damaging to our entire community.”

She shared the incident on Facebook and within 15 minutes her friends took action.

“She (her friend) left her home with a can of spray paint and painted over it the BLM initials,” she said.

Armour says the incident is a reminder that racism is a problem at home and more should be done to educate the younger generation on Black history.

“I believe with that awareness, there will also be that sensitivity and perhaps not this knee jerk reaction to say it’s only in the US,” she said.

Rather than letting this tear her down, Armour feels the opposite.

“It makes me more determined,” she said. “We are now equipped to educate and really put our attention around the people who are supporting racial and social equality.”

With files from CTV Windsor's Sijia Liu.