Park maintenance crews east of Toronto spent the weekend repairing the grounds of a Whitby park after a swastika was found burned into the grass late last week.
The discovery was made by town of Whitby maintenance staff, who spotted the hateful symbol burned into a sports field at Prince of Wales Park, near Thickson Rd. and Dundas St. E.
According to Durham Regional Police, they received a call around 10 p.m. on Friday reporting most of a swastika had been burned into the field.
Police said the vandals apparently left a blue container behind at the scene.
Whitby Regional Councillor Chris Leahy expressed shock at the finding.
“Whitby is not the place you expect to see that type of hateful message,” he said. “When I heard about this incident, I called city staff but I also called B’nai Brith to report it.”
Crews eradicated the swastika by tilling the turf, and will lay down new sod this week.
B’nai Brith Canada’s Richard Robertson told the Toronto Sun that the incident — along with yet another Toronto synagogue vandalized overnight — has left the GTA’s Jewish community feeling vulnerable and targeted.
“We were deeply saddened to see yet another incident of anti-Semitic graffiti targeting the Jewish community,” he said, adding the vandalism is part of Canada’s growing crisis of overt anti-Semitism since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel.
“I don’t think it’s wrong to suggest that the community feels under attack, and increasingly ostracized and isolated. We continue to hear platitudes from officials across the GTA, however words are not enough — concrete action is required to alleviate this worsening trend.”
Leahy said he’ll table a motion at the city’s next council meeting to denounce the vandalism.
“I have a message for those who hate, you are not welcome in Whitby,” he said.
“I am also encouraging residents to be vigilant, if you see something say something. As a community, we have to report these incidents to the appropriate authority.”
Anybody with information, or if area residents have useful dashcam or home surveillance footage, is asked to contact Durham police or Crime Stoppers.