Residents of a neighbourhood in northeast Edmonton are disappointed, and angry, after more than a dozen honorary plaques were pried from the concrete pedestals they were displayed on.
Brad Tilley, president of the Griesbach Community League said there are more than 100 plaques on display around the neighbourhood, and over two nights, seventeen were removed.
“We’ve never had anything like this before,” Tilley said.
“We have no idea why, I just know it’s disrespectful.”
Bryan Evans learned about what happened through Facebook, and said he went for a walk near his house to make sure the plaques on two nearby posts were still there. They were.
But less than a day later, they were gone.
“So that’s two nights in a row now that someone has come and taken the commemorative plaques from the neighbourhood,” Evans said, calling the thefts “brazen”.
It’s believed the plaques were stolen over two days, between July 23 and 24.
Art Chase lives in Griesbach as well, and served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, he called the thefts “disgraceful”, and said the plaques are meaningful to many people, not just those who live in the area.
“They’re not just plaques, they’re things that we’re proud of and people bring their kids and look at,” Tilley said.
The plaques had been secured to the pedestals with screws, and with epoxy, and they appeared to be made of bronze, but they were actually made of a metal alloy. The community league said they would not be worth a lot of they were to be melted down – but they’re costly to replace, with a price tag of between $2,000 and $2,500 each.
Officials hope someone with details will share information with police, who are investigating.
With files from Susan Amerongen
