Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

'Disrespectful and destructive' vandalism on Canadian National Historic Site

Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park between Upper Mazinaw Lake. (Ontario Parks) Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park between Upper Mazinaw Lake. (Ontario Parks)
Share

One of Canada's historic landmarks was vandalized over the Labour Day weekend by people carving their names into it.

It happened on the evening of Sept. 2 in Ontario's Bon Echo Provincial Park, located about 200 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Ontario Parks was notified that the Mazinaw Rock had additional carvings in the face of the cliff. It is believed a stone was used by individuals to mark names near ancient Indigenous pictographs.

A spokesperson from Ontario Parks called the act "disrespectful" and "destructive" saying the incident is now under investigation.

"Mazinaw Rock is a sacred place for Indigenous people. And for millennia, people have been drawn to the rugged beauty of the cliffs," Ontario Parks told CTVNews.ca in an email. "There are more than 260 Indigenous pictographs at Mazinaw Rock and this site is very important for knowledge, ceremony and spiritualism and cultural identity."

Parks Canada designated Mazinaw Rock a historic site in 1982.

Mazinaw is Algonquin for the word "picture" or "writing." The , Parks Canada's website reads.

Vandalism and graffiti happen "infrequently" at Bon Echo, Ontario Parks said, but when it does happen it is "extremely disappointing."

This comes after other acts of vandalism at various landmarks around the world.

In July, two tourists at the centuries-old Colosseum in Rome carved names into the structure. This was the second incident in less than two months.

Earlier in July, a 17-year-old Canadian was brought in for questioning for allegedly carving a name into the UNESCO-listed Toshodaiji Kondo temple complex in Nara, Japan.

Depending on the location, type of graffiti and other environmental factors, some non-invasive removals can be used to restore Mazinaw Rock, Ontario Parks said. This can include biodegradable paint remover, catchment absorbents and professional graffiti and restoration services.

To combat vandalism, the spokesperson said staff at Bon Echo will continue to provide in-depth education and awareness of the site and its protection.

"Park wardens conduct regular enforcement patrols, provide education, as well as issue provincial offence notice fines," she said.

An investigation is ongoing to gain more information on the situation, Ontario Parks said.

"Park staff will continue a concerted effort to address this issue and protect Mazinaw Rock and Bon Echo Provincial Park with a zero-tolerance approach to offences like this," the spokesperson said.

Ontario Parks is asking anyone with information regarding these types of incidents to submit an anonymous tip to Bon Echo Provincial Park at 613 336-2228. 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

opinion

opinion How to make the most out of your TFSA

The Tax-Free Savings Account can be a powerful savings tool and investment vehicle. Financial contributor Christopher Liew explains how they work and how to take full advantage of them so you can reach your financial goals faster.

Local Spotlight

A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. What happened next blew their minds.

A pizza chain in Edmonton claims to have the world's largest deliverable pizza.

Sarah McLachlan is returning to her hometown of Halifax in November.

Wayne MacKay is still playing basketball twice at Mount Allison University at 87 years old.

A man from a small rural Alberta town is making music that makes people laugh.

An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

Stay Connected