Heart up Uptown vandalized
Black spray paint can be seen on the Heart of Uptown in Waterloo on Dec. 13, 2024. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)
Plans are in motion to clean up an art installation in Waterloo after it was vandalized.
According to a social media post from the Uptown Waterloo BIA, someone defaced The Heart of Uptown with black spray paint. They believe it happened Wednesday night.
They say they are reviewing security footage from the area to try to determine who is behind the vandalism.
But in the meantime, they say they have received an outpouring of support.
“The response from our community has been phenomenal. All of the support we’ve been receiving from the community through comments on our social media, we appreciate it. That goes to show how important places like this and projects like this are for our community," Jeyas Balaskanthan, executive director of the BIA, said.
The BIA will be hosting a clean up party on Saturday at noon to restore the bench to its former look. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to reach out to the group.
The Heart of Uptown was unveiled in November 2023, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the BIA.
It was installed with the help of the City of Waterloo using funding from the Regional Tourism Organization 4.
It was designed and manufactured by BOKO with structural engineering services provided by Witzel Dyce Engineering.
In a response to the BIA’s Instagram post regarding the damage, BOKO commented, “Well that’s just sad isn’t it? You know, it kind of reflects how heavy my heart feels knowing that someone was hurting enough to do it.”
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating.
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