Youth charged following rash of hateful graffiti west of Ottawa

A 16-year-old boy is facing mischief charges following the discovery of racist and antisemitic graffiti in various locations throughout Renfrew County earlier this week.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said they first received reports Wednesday about red swastikas spray-painted on a plaque and another sign at the entrance to Bell Park in Arnprior. Another swastika was spotted on the lid of a nearby recycling bin.

By Thursday, the graffiti had been partially scrubbed from the plaque and the sign had been removed, but some traces of the vandalism remained inside the park.

A hate symbol was also found on a road sign near Highway 417 and Ottawa Road 29. Police placed the sign face down Thursday afternoon to hide the offensive image.

A few kilometres north at the Red Pine boat launch in McNab/Braeside, another plaque was vandalized with a swastika and the N-word.

The teen has been charged with three counts of mischief for destroying and damaging public property. His identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

OPP increased their presence in the area following the spree, said Const. Brianna Babin.

"It's a cherished area, so that affects us, pulls on our heart strings a little bit that it's being damaged. And the content of the graffiti is also concerning as well," Babin said.

No place for hate, residents say

Arnprior resident Lysanne Bullen said she was shocked to learn of the vandalism, calling it immature.

"They don't understand the world," Bullen said. "We're a pretty close-knit community and we're very inclusive.... We do a lot to bring ... diversity into Arnprior, we're actually working really hard on it."

McNab/Braeside mayor Lori Hoddinott confirmed the township has started removing and repairing the vandalized signs. 

"Let me be clear — racism and hate have no place in McNab/Braeside," Hoddinot said in a news release Thursday afternoon. "We stand united against these despicable acts and will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable."

Arnprior Mayor Lisa McGee echoed those sentiments, but said the community's reaction has been reassuring.

"It's a hate crime, but to see it so vehemently denounced and the community coming together to express their disgust with what they saw was exactly what I hoped to see," McGee said.