GREENSTONE – The community is reeling following an act of “senseless vandalism” at the Pinegrove Cemetery.
According to Greenstone municipal officials, approximately 40 gravestones were knocked over sometime between 4 p.m. on Monday, when town crews finished cutting grass, and 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
“It’s just so sad that at a place where we should show respect that this was done,” said Mayor James McPherson. “People noticed, they let us know right away and we were able to get over there and start to put things back into the form that they should be, and that part is good. What happened is so sad and we will hopefully be able to find out who did it”.
The destruction was discovered by a municipal employee on Wednesday who was at the cemetery to complete a general inspection.
The municipality said that it had immediately contacted Lakehead Monument, in Thunder Bay, and the company was quick to deploy crews on Thursday morning to professionally inspect and return the stones to their proper places, with work expected to be completed Thursday afternoon.
“I’m very pleased, that staff was able to get a hold of Lakehead Monument and have them come up and get most of them put together and stood back up,” McPherson said. “There's a couple where we need to get a hold of the next of kin to give permission or their direction on what to do. Really pleased though that within a few days we're able to get things back to what it was supposed to be.”
A police report has been filed and the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating. A police spokesperson said that no further information can be provided as the investigation is ongoing.
The total damage to the stones has not yet been calculated and the municipality said that it will assess any additional damage once the stones are righted.
