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Chad Wagner’s initial reaction to the vandalism on the cenotaph in Victoria Park was disgust.
After the cenotaph was cleaned off by city crews Wednesday, more graffiti could be seen on the monument Thursday morning.
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“All you can do is give your head a shake,” Wagner said. “It’s just disturbing that people don’t have respect for other people’s property.”
Wagner, who is the provincial executive director for the Saskatchewan Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, said there’s no room for the desecration of such an important piece of history in our society.
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He said the nearly 100-year-old monument, which was first unveiled in 1926, was originally dedicated to Regina citizens who didn’t make it home from the First World War. It resembles a tomb to represent those who have fallen, but have their remains elsewhere.
“This one’s more than just a cenotaph. There’s an entire monument there that depicts all wars. It’s really just to provide a sense of remembrance for all of those who have fought for our freedoms,” he said.
A written response from the City of Regina said they are aware of the recent vandalism at Victoria Park and the graffiti was removed Thursday morning.
“The safety and security of our customers, employees, and facilities is a priority for the City of Regina and we continue to make investments in security measures that support this safe and secure environment,” the statement read. “Like any security plan, we do not share the specifics of what we have in place as that could compromise its effectiveness.”
Wagner said the cenotaph gets defaced roughly every year, but it’s been a few years since it happened. He added that when it does happen, the community reacts quickly.
“Whether it’s our legion branch, the City of Regina or local businesses, it seems like we’re able to get out there pretty quick, so it’s not sitting there defaced for a long time.”
In a written response, the Regina Police Service (RPS) said it is aware of these incidents and is looking into them.
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