Cranbrook RCMP are appealing for community support to help identify who is responsible for vandalizing three of the twelve Cranbrook Interact Club Storywalk podiums, located across from Kinsman Park on the east side of Victoria Avenue.
The podiums, which had been cemented in place, were pulled out and thrown into Joseph Creek before being discovered by a passerby on Sunday, November 3rd.
While the podiums were slightly damaged with chipped paint and multiple visible signs of kicking without any indication of tool use, five of the plexiglass covers sustained significant damage, with one possibly burned, three smashed, and one removed completely, which has yet to be recovered.
The podiums were recovered by members of the Cranbrook Interact Club and the community in early November before being restored by members of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Cranbrook.
Cranbrook Interact Club say no further damage or information could be found at the scene of the incident, and a report has been made to the RCMP.
Anyone who may have heard or seen the incident is being urged to come forward by the RCMP.
About the Storywalk
The Storywalk is a project created by the Cranbrook Interact Club in June of 2023 with the goal of promoting early physical literacy and showcasing the contributions and talents of youth of Mount Baker Secondary School with the support from many organizations such as the City of Cranbrook, Mount Baker Secondary School, both Rotary clubs, Active Cranbrook Physical Literacy Society, Canada, and Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy.
Dr. Andrea Ingram, a member of the Cranbrook Rotary, Mount Baker youth leadership club, and Cranbrook Interact Club, believes this act of vandalism is an opportunity to go forward positively and potentially help prevent future vandalisms from occurring within the community by analyzing the root of the problem and improving the possible situations that may have provoked a motive.
With the restoration of the Storywalk podiums as of November 27th, the Cranbrook Interact Club is pleased to announce that the next story will be accessible by December.
The Cranbrook Interac Club wishes to thank Sunrise Rotary Club member Bob Bjorn for all of his assistance with the repair and re-installation of the Storywalk podiums as well as Salvador Ready Mix Concrete Ltd. for providing the concrete for the restoration.
Story written by Kaitlyn Gauthier.
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