Roxboro legion laments loss of stolen access ramp
The ramp was built by a legion member who wanted to make the icy walkway safer
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion in Roxboro were shocked to discover Friday morning that the custom wooden access ramp they had built to cope with harsh winter weather was missing.
Fraser Debney, poppy chairman for the legion. built the wooden ramp himself to help users avoid icy patches and wet spots on their way into the building.
The ramp was about six feet long, 20 inches wide and painted bright yellow with a non-slip surface.
"It was heavy. I'm surprised that somebody took it because it was made with large pieces of wood," said Debney.
"I can't see somebody walking away with it."
He said for someone to remove the ramp overnight Thursday, they must have loaded it into a vehicle and maybe had an accomplice.
John Floud, president of the Roxboro legion, told CBC that he was in a state of "disbelief — that would somebody would actually steal from the legion."
"We know people will steal just about anything but this is not the sort of thing you expect," he added.
For Debney and other members, it's the idea that someone would steal from an organization that helps veterans and seniors that bothers them the most.
"Think about who you take it from next time," he said. "You're sacrificing our vulnerable citizens."
He added that if the ramp isn't returned, he's resolved to build another one.
With files from Verity Stevenson