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"thank you for the reminder," church says

Ponoka church has rainbow steps vandalized with eggs and tar

Jun 2, 2023 | 1:26 PM

RCMP are investigating after someone threw eggs at and splattered tar, as well as another unknown substance, on a rainbow walkway leading up to the doors at Ponoka United Church.

This comes on day one of what is, internationally, Pride Month.

In a Facebook post, Ponoka United Church officials say:

“This is the front of our church today. We wanted to make a post to celebrate Pride Month with joy, but here we are: tar and eggs on our rainbow sidewalk and our front door. To the person who did this we say thank you for the reminder of how much work we have to do. We say thank you for inspiring us to be be more determined, more active, more public, intentional and explicit of our support for the LGBTQA2S+ community, more welcoming and supportive of people transitioning and finding their way to their true selves, more open to learning and understanding of everyone, wherever they find themselves on their journey in life. We have Pride every day”

Until suspects are identified and interviewed, their exact motivations remain unknown, police say.

While RCMP start their investigation, they are asking for the community’s assistance.

The Town of Ponoka, meantime, says it’s celebrating Pride Month.

The municipality will once again project Pride colours onto the outside of the Ponoka Civic Centre each evening in June from sunset until sunrise, beginning this upcoming Monday, June 5.

“Projecting the pride colours onto the outside of the Ponoka Civic Centre is an act of celebrating Ponoka’s diversity and showing support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.

If you have an information regarding the crime at the church, or those responsible, you are asked to call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4471. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions).

To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.