Acts of vandalism targeting LGBTQ+ symbols in downtown Stratford offer a painful reminder the Southwestern Ontario tourism hub is not immune to hate-motivated crimes, but homophobic graffiti spray painted on a popular Pride-friendly restaurant has also sparked important conversations about how to move forward, the city’s top cop says.
Acts of vandalism targeting LGBTQ+ symbols in downtown Stratford offer a painful reminder the Southwestern Ontario tourism hub is not immune to hate-motivated crimes, but homophobic graffiti spray painted on a popular Pride-friendly restaurant has also sparked important conversations about how to move forward, the city’s top cop says.
“There have been a number of issues that have been reported to the police over the past number of months, but none have garnered the attention of the public like the issue that Sirkel experienced,” Stratford Police Chief Greg Skinner said. “I think that incident itself will be a catalyst for change in the community.”
Skinner was among 75 people who gathered at the Stratford Pride Community Center on Downie Street on Nov. 2, the evening after Sirkel Foods co-owner Mel Lang found the graffiti as she was arriving to work around 5 am
The incident at Sirkel “required a steam valve, a way to vent,” said organizer Bruce Skeaff, an LGBTQ+ advocate who opened the community center with a group of volunteers shortly after moving to Stratford in late 2020. “It was the intent to scare and intimidate people that was just shocking. This is what we (opened the community centre) for. This is why we want people to come and use it.”
Participation at the meeting was a strong step forward, though it was somewhat short-lived. Not long afterwards, two more incidents of vandalism were discovered in Market Square, an iconic corner of downtown Stratford that includes a number of local shops and city hall.
A Pride Progress flag was stolen from the façade of a local coffee shop between 7 pm on Nov. 2 and 6 am on Nov. 3, police said. Investigators believe that theft is related to the incident at Sirkel, so Stratford Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.
“We have checked the area for any leads and/or video and have been unsuccessful thus far,” Stratford police Insp. Mark Taylor said. “(An) investigation is still ongoing, and we won’t close it off until we exhaust every avenue possible.”
A small hut used during events in Market Square was also targeted last week.
Someone used black spray paint to cover a Pride Progress flag included in a collage on the outside of the hut, said Zac Gribble, the executive director of Destination Stratford, the city’s tourism promoters. It was quickly cleaned up by Destination Stratford staff.
Stratford police have been tracking hate-motivated incidents since 2009. Although the data hadn’t previously shown any strong trends, reports have been increasing over the past couple of years, coinciding with a spike elsewhere in Southwestern Ontario, Skinner said.
“I would say that Stratford is no different than any other municipality right now,” Skinner said. “There is a lot of divisiveness happening in our communities and, as a result, we’re seeing some abhorrent behavior.”
The increase can be partially attributed to a growing willingness to report. It’s critical for that to continue, Skinner added.
“We will investigate all incidents that are hate motivated to the extent possible but, frankly, we can’t do this alone,” he said. “These are the types of incidents that require witnesses, they require people to come forward, they require people to stand up and say that this type of crime … in our community is unacceptable and we’re going to do something about it.”
Many community members, meanwhile, are doing just that.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees launched an online fundraiser to help Sirkel Foods purchase additional security cameras that has so far raised nearly $4,000.
Last week’s incidents have also pushed forward a large-scale diversity, equity and inclusion project being led by Destination Stratford. With help from a third-party consultant, Destination Stratford and several other local organizations have been combining their efforts to explore how to actively identify and dismantle elements of systemic racism, homophobia and other biases.
The group – which includes the Stratford Festival, United Way Perth-Huron and the city’s downtown business association, among others – is preparing to define what it means to be a “welcoming community” before that definition is presented to city council to be formally recognized . Public meetings to gather thoughts from the community are expected to be scheduled shortly.
As a result of last week’s incidents, “we’re pouring a lot of energy into this project with renewed vigor,” Gribble said. “I’m disheartened, to say the least, about the incidents that happened, but I am heartened to see the reaction, the energy and the motivation to improve the situation.”
In a statement on behalf of Stratford’s downtown business association on Wednesday, general manager Jamie Pritchard expressed “sadness and sorrow” for the businesses affected and echoed the need for the community to come together.
“The people of Stratford need to grasp the fact that this is not the first time we have had issues,” he said. “There is no one group, including the BIA, that has all the answers. Together we need to be moving forward to find solutions.”