‘Quite shocking': Antisemitic graffiti discovered at two Richmond Hill parks

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 11, 2023

On the morning of Oct. 7, the day many Canadians woke up to news that Palestinian militant group Hamas had launched surprise attacks on Israel, Richmond Hill resident Silvia Mac Con was walking her dog to Westview Parkette near Yonge Street and High Tech Road.

Upon entering the park, she was distressed to see red swastikas spray-painted on the stone pathway and on a plaque showing a map of Canada.

“Considering I’m Jewish, I felt very vulnerable and very upset,” she said. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen hate graffiti, but I’ve never seen it this close to home.

“To the best of my knowledge, everybody in this neighbourhood gets along really well, so it’s quite shocking.”

Mac Con took photos and sent the images to Coun. Karen Cilevitz, who in turn contacted the mayor, regional councillors, senior city staff and York Regional Police (YRP).

“Everyone was horrified,” said Cilevitz. “I am extremely grateful for their swift response and action as soon as I informed them.

“I felt it was my duty to report it, not only as a city councillor but more importantly as a Jew, and because I am the only Jew seated on our council,” she said. “This type of antisemitic hatred in our neighbourhoods, anywhere, is completely unacceptable, period.”

YRP Const. Lisa Moskaluk, media relations, said that upon investigation, in addition to the other reported graffiti, another swastika was found at Morgan Boyle Park, the larger park that encompasses Westview Parkette.

“It is believed the incidents occurred between the afternoon of Oct. 6 and the morning of Oct. 7,” she said. “We are not aware of any similar incidents occurring over the weekend.”

Moskaluk said YRP’s Hate Crime Prevention Unit (HCPU) recently completed an initiative addressing hate graffiti with bylaw officers and YRP front-line officers to help address how to identify a hate incident, reporting guidelines and a guide to identify hateful graffiti. They have also increased patrols in parks and public areas to assist with preventing these types of incidents.

“We take these incidents, and any hate-motivated incident, seriously,” she said. “All hate incidents are investigated thoroughly, with prevention methods put into place.”

Mayor David West released a statement in solidarity with the Israeli community, and condemned acts of hatred in communities.

“Richmond Hill prides itself on fostering an inclusive community that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our population,” he said. “We acknowledge that free speech is a right and freedom, but hate speech and harassment cannot and will not be tolerated.

“Hatred in any and all forms, including acts of antisemitism, is unacceptable and we cannot accept any action that limits our residents’ ability to live their lives with freedom from discrimination.”

A city spokesperson said staff covered the graffiti soon after it was reported. Once YRP gave clearance to proceed with removal, it was quickly removed. “It took less than 24 hours to remove the graffiti, from the moment the incident was first brought to the attention of city staff,” the spokesperson said. In response to a question about financial costs, they said, “It costs the city roughly $350 per incident to remove graffiti plus the staffing cost to the city and YRP to respond, investigate and resolve the incident.”

Given the timeline of when the incidents seemingly occurred, Mac Con wasn’t sure whether the perpetrator(s) committed the act knowing what was happening in Israel or not, but regardless, it still hurt.

“You have to wonder, is it ignorance?” She asked. “Is it a lack of empathy that makes people do this?

“Do they know the significance of this to people of my generation, or to my father who was a Holocaust survivor? It’s way too close to home.”