City of Surrey acts quickly to restore defaced LGBTQ rainbow crosswalk

The City of Surrey acted quickly to remove the damage to the newly painted rainbow crosswalk next to Holland Park.

The rainbow crosswalk —which symbolizes support for the LGBTQ community — was splattered and vandalized with white paint over the weekend.

Surrey’s new LGBTQ rainbow crosswalk damaged with white paint splatters on June 24, 2018. (Ginger Gervais / Twitter)

The City of Surrey has now removed the paint splatters and restored the crosswalk for the community to enjoy.

“Diversity is a strength we celebrate in #SurreyBC. It is disappointing that there are those who feel it’s their right to attempt to destroy public property and show disregard for this symbol of our diversity,” wrote the City in a tweet.

“Our City Operations team immediately put together a plan to remove the vandalism and crews expect to restore the rainbow crosswalk by applying high-pressure steam before the day is out. We stand by the LGBTQ community who live and work in #SurreyBC.”

Diversity is a strength we celebrate in #SurreyBC. It is disappointing that there are those who feel it’s their right to attempt to destroy public property and show disregard for this symbol of our diversity. pic.twitter.com/Wn2SeGuNFn

— City of Surrey (@CityofSurrey) June 25, 2018

Installation of the rainbow crosswalk was intended to deliver a message that we are a community that values inclusivity and equality, and that we are welcoming to all.

— City of Surrey (@CityofSurrey) June 25, 2018

Our City Operations team immediately put together a plan to remove the vandalism and crews expect to restore the rainbow crosswalk by applying high-pressure steam before the day is out. We stand by the LGBTQ community who live and work in #SurreyBC.

— City of Surrey (@CityofSurrey) June 25, 2018

“The Mayor, of course, condemns this bigoted act, but it is not interested in giving the perpetrators any sort of publicity,” Blair Kesteven, intergovernmental liaison with the City of Surrey, told Daily Hive.

According to Kesteven, the RCMP has also opened a file on the incident.

The crosswalk cost $8,500 to paint and is expected to have a five-year lifespan.

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