The mayor of Nanaimo, B.C., is calling out vandals who defaced the iconic sign bearing the city’s name.
The letter “O” on the Nanaimo sign in Maffeo Sutton Park is normally painted in rainbow colours, but someone repainted it white on Monday.It’s not clear what the vandals’ motivation was, but Mayor Leonard Krog said he believes it may be because the multi-coloured O resembles a logo used by the World Economic Forum.
1:59
Hundreds of Americans gather in Nanaimo after social media invite
“It may be the anti-World Economic Forum conspiracy crowd who think the diversity colours represent some secret connection with the WEF, which is absolute bunk and garbage.” Story continues below advertisement
if ( typeof( gn_monetize ) !== 'undefined' && typeof( gn_monetize.Ads ) !== 'undefined' && gn_monetize.Ads.initialRequestMade() ) {
// Ads script has been loaded, create the ad.
gn_monetize.Ads.create( {"sizes":"[300,250]","biddable":true,"id":"gpt-ad-300250-10","lazy":false,"targeting":{"pos":10,"slotid":"gpt-ad-300250-10"},"companion":false} );
} else {
// if Ads script not yet loaded, queue up ad data for initialization.
var gnAdSettings = gnAdSettings || {};
gnAdSettings.ads = gnAdSettings.ads || [];
gnAdSettings.ads.push( {"sizes":"[300,250]","biddable":true,"id":"gpt-ad-300250-10","lazy":false,"targeting":{"pos":10,"slotid":"gpt-ad-300250-10"},"companion":false} );
}
The colours in the O are actually a representation of diversity, Krog said.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Sign up for daily National newsletter
Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
“The colours on the O of Nanaimo represent diversity. It is a message to the world that Nanaimo is a welcoming, accepting community for everyone, regardless of colour, ethnicity, orientation, whatever distinction you may wish to make,” he said.“And if you resent diversity, with great respect, you are living in the wrong country.”
1:58
Americans ‘invade’ Nanaimo to help boost economy
Trending Now
Riding Pierre Poilievre lost in had highest voter turnout in Ontario, data shows
Canadian rockers Nickelback headlining U.S. ‘patriot’ music festival tour
Krog said the vandalism was in particularly poor taste, coming just a day after the same park was the site of a gathering of locals and Americans invited to town in the spirit of friendship amid tensions with the U.S.“It was just as stupid thing to do and a damn dumb time to do it,” he said. Story continues below advertisement
if ( typeof( gn_monetize ) !== 'undefined' && typeof( gn_monetize.Ads ) !== 'undefined' && gn_monetize.Ads.initialRequestMade() ) {
// Ads script has been loaded, create the ad.
gn_monetize.Ads.create( {"sizes":"[300,250]","biddable":true,"id":"gpt-ad-300250-11","lazy":true,"targeting":{"pos":11,"slotid":"gpt-ad-300250-11"},"companion":false} );
} else {
// if Ads script not yet loaded, queue up ad data for initialization.
var gnAdSettings = gnAdSettings || {};
gnAdSettings.ads = gnAdSettings.ads || [];
gnAdSettings.ads.push( {"sizes":"[300,250]","biddable":true,"id":"gpt-ad-300250-11","lazy":true,"targeting":{"pos":11,"slotid":"gpt-ad-300250-11"},"companion":false} );
}
It’s not the first time the sign has been defaced.Last year, someone spray-painted the sign, also with a message opposing the WEF.The white paint has since been removed.
More on Crime
More videos
NHL player testifies about group chat screenshot at world junior sex assault trial
Woman accused of killing 3 with toxic mushroom-laced meal heads to trial
Lapu Lapu festival attendee says he grabbed suspect as he tried to flee the scene
‘I can’t do this right now’: Court shown videos at world junior sex assault trial
NHL player testifies at world junior sex assault trial
Active NHL players expected to testify at world junior sexual assault trial
Reluctant Lapu Lapu Day hero speaks out
Victim impact statements in case of man who drove bus into Laval daycare bring courtroom to tears
Guerrero’s late three-run homer lifts Blue Jays do sex
B.C. man completes dream adventure on Canada’s most northern island do sex
Leafs beat Sens to take Battle of Ontario do sex
Wildfire knocks out internet and phone service in Tumbler Ridge do sex
May 1st: France's Labour Day rules do sex
