Police are investigating a "disgusting" theft from the memorial to honour 215 Indigenous children whose bodies were found in a mass grave at a former residential school in B.C.
Police received a call late Thursday afternoon about a theft at the Spirit Catcher where a memorial of shoes has been in place since May 30.
A BarrieToday reader said he videotaped what he called a "disgusting" theft and alerted police to the incident; he was able to provide the person's licence plate details to police.
"We did receive excellent information and are in the process of an investigation,” said Barrie Police Communications Coordinator Peter Leon. “This memorial has been a place for many to pay their respects and certainly was not intended for this use.”
Denice Muscat-Joseph, who often attends the Barrie Native Friendship Centre (BNFC), organized the memorial. Her goal was to have people leave 215 pairs of shoes to represent each child found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in late May.
Muscat-Joseph told BarrieToday on Friday that the plan for the shoes was to box them up to donate to the David Busby Centre, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County and the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie.
Upon hearing about the theft, she told BarrieToday she isn’t holding ill will.
“I don't know what to say other than I hope that person needed them. The plan is to box up the shoes to donate them to several local organizations where they will be put to good use,” said Muscat-Joseph.
“I know a BNFC worker offered a pair of shoes to someone who needed them. So the shoes are not only to create awareness but will also go to individuals who need them.”
