A Garibaldi Estates landmark that served both as a symbol of the Olympics and one man's dedication to his wife was knocked down by vandals over the holidays.
Last Thursday (Dec. 27), Vic and Myrtle Hurford awoke to find their six-foot-tall Inukshuk tumbled over on their lawn on Ridgeway Crescent. "It was such an unnecessary thing to do," said Myrtle. She recalled how her husband took one last look at the Inukshuk with Christmas lights wrapped around the basalt rocks before going to bed on Boxing Day (Dec. 26).
Neither of them heard any sounds during the night, but Myrtle said it would have taken at least three strong bodies to pull it over. With five-foot-long rebar rods running from the shoulders of the statue into its legs, the 2,000-pound Inukshuk appeared to have folded over quietly as the rods were bent.
"When he made it, he made it so secure because he didn't want any kids climbing on it and getting the rocks loose," Myrtle explained.
Vic built the monument in the spring of 2006 with the help of his neighbour Bill Fairhurst. In the past year and a half it has become a sightseeing destination.
"We had lots of people who would visit and come take pictures of it," Vic recalled.
He said he plans to rebuild the Inukshuk in the spring, this time putting cement between each layer to strengthen it.
Although Vic said it is simply the stupidity of the act that upsets him, Myrtle admitted it is difficult not to take the incident personally.
"I'm beginning to think 'Why are they picking on us?' she said. "Why do this? We're a couple of older people. We're friendly with everybody."
She said she has come to the conclusion that the large monument was considered a challenge by whoever pushed it down.
It was the first act of vandalism the couple has encountered during their 45 years on Ridgeway Crescent.
RCMP Constable Glen Stewart visited the site but was not available for comment.
