Brentwood Bay Pride crosswalk vandalized with homophobic graffiti

WARNING: This article contains photos and subject matter which may be upsetting to some readers. 

Just days after a Pride crosswalk was defaced in Saanich, a Central Saanich crosswalk was similarly scrawled with hateful, homophobic imagery.

Central Saanich Police are seeking any witnesses to a hateful crime committed in Brentwood Bay at the corner of Wallace Road and Newton Place, adjacent to Bayside Middle School.

A crosswalk painted with the rainbow insignia in honour of Pride month was defaced with homophobic slurs and crude drawings between Monday, July 3rd and the early hours of Tuesday, July 4th. 

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor told Victoria Buzz he came across a post in the Brentwood Bay Community Chat Facebook page, and was saddened to see this kind of graffiti in the district he governs. 

“My response back was, well, we will obviously fix this,” Mayor Windsor said. “We won’t let the hateful imagery stand.”

Related:

• Pride sidewalk in Saanich vandalized after recent installation

At the time, there was no official police report, according to the mayor. He informed staff directly to have the graffiti removed as soon as possible so it would not bring harm to anyone within Central Saanich’s 2SLGBTQI+ community.

“Most importantly, in my perspective, is [having] individuals feel supported in our community and continue to feel that support without being subjected to hateful imagery,” Mayor Windsor told Victoria Buzz.

“So my concern was first and foremost getting rid of it.” 

Since that time, the graffiti has been removed by district staff and an official police report has been made. Central Saanich Police have opened an investigation into who defaced the crosswalk, primarily seeking dashcam and doorbell camera footage from the area. 

Anyone who may have footage or information about who may have defaced the crosswalk should contact Central Saanich Police at (250) 652-4441.