Community members in Port Alberni, B.C., joined forces on a misty afternoon to cover up offensive graffiti on a local bridge dedicated to residential school survivors. This marked the third instance of vandalism in four years and the second within a week.
The bridge, referred to as “the orange bridge” locally, is situated on Highway 4 in the small city located 140 kilometers northwest of Victoria, B.C., on Vancouver Island. Authorities reported that swastikas and a racial slur were painted on the bridge in the early hours of Wednesday, Jan. 21. Additionally, a racial slur was found on the bridge’s “Every Child Matters” sign on Jan. 14.
This act of vandalism occurred on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The bridge connects to c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation), where the Alberni Indian Residential School operated from 1900 to 1973. Records indicate that at least 67 children lost their lives at the school during that period, with preliminary findings from a ground scan conducted in 2023 revealing 17 potential unmarked graves.
In 2022, the Tseshaht First Nation collaborated with the Ministry of Transportation to paint the concrete barriers at the bridge orange, along with the phrase “Every Child Matters,” as a gesture to honor the Indigenous children who once traversed the bridge on their way to the institution.
Wahmeesh (Ken Watts), the elected chief councillor of the Tseshaht First Nation, expressed his emotions upon learning about the graffiti and viewing images. He conveyed feelings of anger and sorrow, especially for the survivors of the Alberni Indian Residential School and other victims of tragedies like the Holocaust.
Watts expressed concerns about the escalating hate and division globally but found solace in the community’s united response, which included members of the local Legion, RCMP, and Ministry of Transportation providing support during the graffiti cover-up.
Debbie Haggard, a City of Port Alberni councillor, shared her disappointment and disbelief at the ongoing acts of vandalism. She emphasized the importance of community solidarity and collaboration, declaring her and her fellow council members’ support for the Tseshaht First Nation.
Port Alberni RCMP have requested individuals who were in the area on Jan. 14 between 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Jan. 21 from midnight to 1:30 a.m. to provide any dashcam footage they may have. The Tseshaht Nation is taking steps to install surveillance cameras in the vicinity to enhance security measures.
The Ministry of Transportation, in a statement to CBC News, confirmed its engagement with the nation and is exploring additional strategies to prevent and address future incidents in the area.
