![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
'I was gutted': Rainbow sidewalk in front of central Alberta church vandalized
Police are investigating after the United Church in Ponoka was vandalized on Thursday.
Mounties say someone threw eggs and splattered tar and an unknown substance on the rainbow sidewalk leading to the church.
"I was gutted, shattered, just really demoralized," said Jessica Jones of the Ponoka Pride Society.
Members of the church congregation first painted the steps in 2020, to show solidarity with the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Graham Boys of the church said he's disappointed someone would vandalize the steps, particularly during Pride month.
"I'm glad that the people who did this, targeted us, and not an actual at-risk person because sidewalks can be repainted," he told CTV News Edmonton.
On Friday, community members came out to clean and repaint the sidewalk.
Community members clean and repaint the rainbow sidewalk in front of the United Church in Ponoka after it was vandalized. (Nav Sangha/CTV News Edmonton)
"Our community comes together. It always has, and we have a supportive and inclusive community," Jones said.
Recently elected Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson was invited to help repaint the steps.
Johnson made headlines during the election campaign after a video surfaced of her comparing trans children to feces in food.
Jones said she wanted to give Johnson the opportunity to show her support.
"I think she's scared, and she's scared to show her face around these issues because she needed to distance herself from them."
Johnson did not appear on Friday while the steps were repainted.
Jones said her comments only encourage this type of vandalism.
"When a leader elicits hate, I think certain things like this will happen."
In the wake of the incident, the Ponoka Pride Society has announced its hosting a Pride in the Park event on June 10 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Centennial Park in Ponoka.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4471 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Ponoka is about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Former judge with disputed Cree heritage likely has Indigenous DNA: law society
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering serious burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a U.S. national park where temperatures soared past 48 Celsius.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.