While Port Hardy candidates were discussing ways to battle vandalism during an all-cadidates meeting, it seems punks were busy wrecking a community garden.
“Trees were pulled up by the roots and some were broken off,” said Kathy Hellberg, who noticed the damage on Granville Street near the hospital grounds, while out for a walk with hubby, Russ, Nov. 7.
Nothing else in the area seemed to be damaged Monday night, but some nearby political signs seemed to have taken a beating.
The Hellbergs were among the first on the scene because of an all candidates meeting at the Civic Centre, which was going on at roughly the same time as the vandalism.
“We have no idea who the heck it was” said Kathy.
She contacted the district that sent workers to fix the damage Tuesday morning.
“There were seven trees that were ripped out or broken,” said public works foreman Jack Griffiths.
Although the broken off trees are done for, the uprooted ones were able to be replanted.
Although public works’ horticulturalist was away at the time, public works employee Rod Walsh was able to replant the uprooted trees.
Some of the uprooted trees may not survive, and the cost of replacing all seven trees would be from $1,200 to $1,400, said Griffiths.
Nearly all damage to the garden was repaired by late Tuesday.
It didn’t end there though, vandals struck again at The Source at 3 a.m. Sunday.
A large rock “the size of a head” had been used to try and punch out the window, said Gary Wells, of the electronics store.
Wells said the business is now on the hook for a $500 deductible charge to replace the glass.
“Essentially that means the 500 bucks I’m spending on the window means I’m not spending on community stuff, the money just won’t be there,” he said.
Wells said he sometimes gets three or four letters a week looking for support for various charities.
“I have one on my desk right now, but I’m also looking at the broken window,” he said.
Wells added he’s “not trying to weave a woe is me story,” but vandalism has all sorts of impacts, beyond the obvious damages.
“Anytime someone is paying for the damage from some jackass, they’re not paying to have anything else done. “