'Why would someone do that?' A dozen commemorative plaques stolen in separate thefts in Calgary area
Halya Wilson says a dedication in a northeast Calgary park allows her to remember the Ukrainians who came to Alberta more than 130 years ago.
But the brass plaque marking the Ukrainian Pioneers Park was stolen this month, one of a dozen plaques that have gone missing in and around Calgary this month.
"Just disappointed that it's gotten to the point that people need to damage property or damage plaques," Wilson said, while looking at the damaged stone marker where the plaque sat for more than 30 years.
The plaque was installed in a park along 7 Ave. NE in 1991, but recently someone pried the brass right off.
"It was a celebration of Ukrainian settlement to Canada. Now, with the war, there are people who wonder why?" Wilson said.
In southwest Calgary, in the community of Currie, a similar theft occurred. Eight brass plaques honouring recipients of the Victoria Cross medal were taken.
Four stone monuments used to have information on some of the people who had been awarded the military's medal for bravery and valour, but they now show just the glue that used to hold the plaques.
The recent string of stolen plaques isn't just happening in Calgary. RCMP in Turner Valley say three brass plaques were stolen from the Little Chicago-Royalties monument, located just north of Longview.
"It was more like disbelief. It was more like 'why would someone do that?'," said Irene Kerr with the Museum of the Highwood, which has been put in charge of maintaining the site for several years.
"Now we know why: they're made out of brass," she said.
Plaques were stolen from 3 different sites
Though police have not released a motive for the recent rash of plaque thefts, people connected to the monuments believe people are stealing them to try and sell the scrap metal.
Recycled brass can sell for around $2.50 per kilogram, but provincial legislation requires all scrap metal dealers to report certain high-value transactions to police. The rules were implemented in 2020 to try and deal with the rise in catalytic converter thefts in Alberta.
Wilson and Kerr hope the plaques eventually turn up -- either in a garbage or alley, or when someone tries to sell them to a dealer -- but they already have plans to try and replace the markers.
"We'll definitely be re-doing them," Kerr said of the plaques in Longview.
"I can pretty much match what was there before, we just won't be using metal."
Anyone with information regarding the theft of any of the plaques is urged to call Calgary Police or RCMP.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.