Lambton OPP seem to have pinpointed a time vandals painted four PRIDE crosswalks in Petrolia.

Lambton OPP has been investigating after crosswalks at Victoria Hall, LCCVI, Queen Elizabeth II School and Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital were painted white. Some of the sidewalks were also marked with a stencil saying Fear God in black capital letters.

Lambton OPP ask that any home or business owners in the area check their surveillance tapes from 2 to 4 am Sept. 22 for suspicious activity. Both the town and LCCVI officials have already turned over surveillance tape to police. Each of the crosswalks has security cameras pointed at them.

Monday night, during the Petrolia Council meeting, Mayor Brad Loosley again condemned the acts and appealed to the public come forward with any information about who may have been involved.

“If you feel uncomfortable to call the police, call me, and I will not release your name, and I will call the police,” Loosley added, offering to help.

Councillor Liz Welsh said after the vandalism became public, Crystal Fach of Diversity Ed reached out offering to host information sessions in Petrolia.

“These are our friends, these are our family, our neighbors, our colleagues, and it’s very hard to see them hurt like that, and I think she’ll just bring maybe some tools to the community for people who don’t know what to do.”

This is not the first time PRIDE symbols have been vandalized in Petrolia. The owner of a local food truck has had PRIDE Flags and an awning damaged in 2021. 

 And in 2022, the same food truck operator’s truck was vandalized at the Petrolia Fair.

Welsh says it is “obvious” there are “elements out there” who want to harm members of the LGBTQ2S community, but she’s hopeful some public education sessions may help.

“I think it’s good to remind our LGBTQ community that we support them…some people don’t know how to support them and how to be an ally,” says Welsh. 

The Lambton-Kent District School Board also issued a statement. “We will always work towards ensuring all students and staff are safe and feel a sense of belonging in our schools. Now is the time to move our advocacy to allyship and stand up against all forms of hate.”