Clarington Mayor's statement on hateful park vandalism

Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster has issued the following statement condemning the graffiti recently discovered in Clarington.

“On behalf of Clarington Council, I want to clearly condemn this hateful act of vandalism. The use of violent and bigoted language to deface a public park where children gather and play is unacceptable and has no place in our community.  

I share residents’ disappointment with this mean-spirited graffiti. Clarington is overwhelmingly a kind and caring community. We speak out against these rare small-minded acts of ignorance and hate because they do not represent our values. Hate has no home in Clarington, and hatred directed at any group is a threat to us all.

We stand together to condemn all forms of intolerance and racism. Together, we will continue to build a Clarington where every resident knows they are welcome, valued, and safe. I’m proud to live in a community where everyone can belong.

I want to thank the residents who reported the graffiti, and our staff who acted quickly to remove it. Thanks also to the Durham Regional Police Service for their investigation of this serious incident.”