Graffiti on Burgess Rd breakwater. Photo Darlene Norman

Region of Queens will spend $5,000 to clean graffiti in Port Mouton.

For the last year and a half residents have complained about offensive graffiti being posted on a breakwater and surrounding rocks at the end of Burgess Rd.

The complaint landed on the council floor at the last meeting where Mayor Darlene Norman shared photos she had taken with the rest of council.

Norman says council agreed with the representative for that area, Councillor Kevin Muise, who said that graffiti wouldn’t be tolerated in more populated parts of the Region and his residents should expect the same service.

“Even though that area may not receive as much traffic and eyeballs as land in around Liverpool, Milton, Brooklyn area, or any community, it is an area known by locals who like to go there and look out to sea and it’s our land,” said Norman. “So, we need to be responsible for our land and we need to keep unsavoury comments off our land.”

The abandoned breakwater at the end of Burgess Rd was transferred from the Federal Government to the Region of Queens about 20 years ago because it provides access to water.

At one point in the discussion council contemplated removing the breakwater but Norman says that idea was quickly dismissed as the structure is important in maintaining the integrity of the surrounding land.

“If you were to remove that then you are changing the dynamics of those ocean currents and you would, in effect, be causing significant change to the land on the other side, so, the breakwater stays,” said Norman.

Council has requested that either staff remove the graffiti, in-house, or hire a contractor to complete the work.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

To listen to the full interview with Mayor Darlene Norman, press play below.

Security camera photo of vandal. Photo courtesy RCMP

Queens District RCMP continues to investigate mischief at the Liverpool tourist bureau.

Between the evening of January 8 and early morning hours of January 9, someone had vandalized the building with various forms of graffiti.

A photo of a person believed to be involved in the incident was released to the public in the hopes of identifying them.

RCMP investigators have since learned that, later that morning, on January 9 a dark-coloured sedan with Ontario license plates parked at the tourist bureau. The driver exited the vehicle and met with another man who approached on foot. RCMP say the two people had a discussion, expressing the same hateful language that had been spray painted on the tourist bureau.

The driver of the vehicle is described as being in his early 20s with dark hair.

The man who was on foot had a beard.

Investigators say this act of mischief is consistent with being motivated by bias, prejudice or hate against an identifiable group.

Anyone with information, or dash camera footage of the area on January 10, is asked to contact the Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Liverpool Visitor Information Centre. Photo courtesy Region of Queens Municipality

The 2SLGBTQ+ community has been targeted by vandals in Liverpool.

Sometime Sunday evening someone spray painted hateful graffiti over the rainbow painted steps at the visitor information centre along Henry Hensey Drive.

Mayor Darlene Norman is disappointed anyone would deface a symbol of inclusion and welcome with hate.

Norman said it’s, “horrible that member or members of our community or people within our province or country would publicly display their hatred toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community is simply a sign of hatred and that is definitely what we are not in our community.”

The vandals also etched hateful graffiti in the panes of glass at the VIC.

Norman says RCMP have been informed of the vandalism and are investigating.

Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are calling for more action for instances such as this.

Commenting to QCCR, Chair of Lunenburg Pride Steve Ellis said, “These acts of vandalism are disgusting and need to be investigated by the RCMP as a hate crime; full stop. The stairs are beautiful and a shining example of visibility for our community. We at Lunenburg Co. Pride condemn these acts. We will continue to speak out against any hateful actions or words against our community and this only motivates us to be even louder in our vision of an inclusive space for everyone on the South Shore and beyond.”

Mayor Norman says the offending graffiti has already been painted over and staff are looking into whether the glass can be repaired or will need to be replaced.

She is more concerned about the impact this act will have on the community.

“We can expend money to put in new windows, replace glass, fix glass, scrub paint but what we cannot fix is the damage that has been done by people in our community who have seen this or know of it or have been exposed to this,” said Norman.

She says the Region of Queens has prioritized diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and will continue to do so.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Queens RCMP.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.