'It's totally disrespectful': New memorial plaque in Fort Smith defaced

Only weeks after a memorial plaque was unveiled in Fort Smith, N.W.T., it has been defaced.

The plaque was erected on a rock in the community earlier this month, commemorating people affected by a devastating landslide 50 years ago.

"When I first saw it, I was pretty choked with how somebody could be so disrespectful," said Shannon Coleman, a member of a local committee commemorating the landslide.

"It's totally disrespectful."

Coleman said the substance on the rock was paint. It's since beencleaned off by five members of the community, but is still visible on the rock.

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Fort Smith resident Tim Heron posted photos of the apparent vandalism on Facebook.

"This site is not even a month old and now being disrespected," he said.

Heron's post got dozens of comments from people saying they were disappointed, disgusted and saddened by the news.

'It's just not nice'

A bench near the site of the landslide was also unveiled in aceremony, commemorating Kay Ferguson, who was killed after being buried under tonnes of loose sand.

Coleman said she's spoken to Ferguson's granddaughter, who is "pretty upset" about the incident.

"Messages on Facebook from the other family members ... they're just totally beside themself over the whole thing. Like, why?" said Coleman.

She'sfed up with a spate of vandalism in the village, and had a message for whoever is doing it.

"It's not one person that they're upsetting or hurt. It's your community. You're living here.It's just not nice."

An RCMP spokesperson said the policehave not received a complaint or report about the incident.

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