Vandalism is becoming more and more of a problem everywhere in the province, including Prince Rupert where recent days have seen vandals busy spray painting around the city, knocking over mail boxes, breaking windows or trying to knock over fixtures around the City hall fountain area.
The CBC website is profiling a rather high visibility target in the Central Interior which has been touched by vandalism. The latest high profile to be the target of a mindless attack being the city's statue in commemoration of Terry Fox. Prince George RCMP suspect that the target this time was selected for its value on the scrap metal market.
Ironically for the vandals, the statue itself isn't made of metal at all but a fibreglass composite with bronze flecking. There are no suspects in the case that has dismayed local residents who remembered the Canadian icon fondly.
It's yet another growing sign of dsirespect for common values and a worrisome indication at the mindset of those that seem to want to cause as much trouble as possible, without fear of any real consequences.
Terry Fox statue in central B.C. defaced beyond repair
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 5:14 PM PT
CBC News
A Terry Fox statue in Prince George has been vandalized beyond repair in what police believe was an attempt to sell scrap metal for money.
RCMP Const. Gary Godwin said the culprits made off with part of the statue's head.
"That's what they probably thought it was, a bronze statue," he said. "However, it's not a bronze statue. It's some sort of a plastic fibreglass resin with some bronze filing mixed in."
'It appears that nothing is sacred anymore.'— Dick Voneugen
Dick Voneugen, who said he was inspired by a chance meeting with Fox at a marathon long ago, helped bring the statue to downtown Prince George.
He said the community warmly welcomed the statue and some good citizen actually put a hat and scarf on the statue to keep Fox warm last winter.
Voneugen told CBC News he's appalled someone showed such disrespect by attacking "our national hero."
"It's unbelievable that this could happen," he said. "We're totally surprised. It appears that nothing is sacred anymore."
Godwin said vandals drew swastikas and a moustache on the statue, in addition to knocking off part of the head.
Voneugen said the statue is beyond repair and it will cost thousands of dollars to replace it.
The city is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Fox tried to run across the country on an artificial leg in 1980, in an effort to raise money for cancer research.
He had to abandon the run when his cancer returned, and he died soon after.
Prince Geroge Citizen story
Prince George Free Press story
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