‘Deeply upsetting’: AIDS Memorial at Barbara Hall Park vandalized

The AIDS Memorial at Barbara Hall Park near Church and Wellesley streets has been vandalized with black paint.

It’s not clear exactly when the act of vandalism took place and Toronto police tell CityNews they have not received a report about it.

In a statement, Toronto Centre Councillor Chris Moise called the vandalism “deeply upsetting and personally heartbreaking.”

“The monument was constructed to honour those whose lives have been lost to AIDS, as well as to celebrate those who live courageously with the virus. The fact that someone would desecrate this sacred space is inconceivable, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”

Moise added that “plans are already underway at the City to begin removing the graffiti.”

“I look forward to seeing the memorial promptly restored to its former state.”

The 519, a nearby community centre, is the trustee of the memorial. It declined to comment on the vandalism, but says the City has placed a work order and “the issue should be addressed shortly.”

On its website, The 519 says the memorial, designed by Patrick Fahn, opened in the park in 1993 and stands as “a tribute to people from our local community who have died of an AIDS-related illness.’

“The Memorial counters the silence, denial, isolation, and rejection that are so often connected with AIDS. This is a place to grieve those who are gone, to celebrate their lives and courage, and to take pride in our response to AIDS.”

New names are engraved and installed each year.

The Church and Wellesley community has seen a marked escalation of drug use and crime, with neighbourhood staple Dudley’s Hardware recently contemplating shutting its doors after its windows were smashed for the fourth time this year — and 14th time over the last five years.

On top of the costly vandalism, the owner of the almost century-old store told CityNews his staff routinely faces harassment.

“It’s frightening,” owner Steve Dawson said. “We don’t know what’s coming through the door.”

Church Street Espresso, a cafe a bit further north on Church Street, has had its windows smashed at least six times in the last year-and-a-half and has now resorted to placing plywood over the windows instead of replacing them.

With files from Tina Yazdani