Graffiti vandalism on Vancouver's Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is an attack on marginalized communities, says director
Vancouver’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden was targeted with extensive graffiti Saturday night.
The gardens, located in the city’s historic Chinatown, are a cultural hub for Metro Vancouver’s Chinese-Canadian community.
Executive director Lorraine Lowe says staff alerted her to the many large, spray-painted tags on the garden’s white outer walls, around 9 a.m. on Sunday.
“It is very disheartening because, you know, it's a symbol and pillar of our cultural heritage and our community. So, you know, it's sad,” she said.
Other recent incidents of graffiti vandalism on the institution have been racially targeted, but Lowe says it appears this time it’s just the large tags.
As a well-known attraction, the society is also an economic driver for the area, attracting visitors who then shop and eat nearby as part of their visit.
“It's not just an attack on our nation, but an attack on all the communities and groups we serve, the marginalized communities, we serve the LGBT community, the Pride in Chinatown (group), and the Chinese Canadian Indigenous art exhibition engagement that we just had,” Lowe said.
“I feel that it's important for us to be recognized as a safe and inclusive space for everyone to share…(so) this type of vandalism and attack on our institution is quite concerning and disheartening.”
“I just hope that on a world stage we're not viewed as this place as being dangerous, rather, we are an oasis in the whole heart of the city and…inside (the garden walls) it's beautiful,” Lowe said.
The economic recession and COVID-19 pandemic have hit the garden hard, and vandalism is the opposite of what the garden – and community – need, Lowe said.
“We've been down for quite some time and you know, this is just another thing…(and it has happened) so close to Chinese New Year. We want to make sure that we have a very successful Chinese New Year,” she said.
Lowe said that garbage, human urine and feces are frequently found surrounding the garden and at the main gates.
“When our staff arrives at 9 a.m. in the morning, and we have to open our doors at 10 a.m., the waft of smell and the urine – it's just, I don't know if it's targeted, it's starting to feel like it is over a course of repeated incidences.”
“There's other places to defecate – whatever – but it just seems to happen all the time where our entrance gate is right on Carrall Street.”
“So knowing that we are a representation of the Chinese Canadian community and the cultural heritage…knowing that we are being under attack…broken windows, graffiti, I do find it very concerning,” she said.
Garden staff reported the incident to police on Sunday morning, and by the early afternoon cleanup and a paint-over had begun, Lowe said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.