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Hospice garden damaged

The Sally Wellman Memorial Garden on the Seawalk at Rotary Park was created to provide a space where families could commemorate loved ones
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Jacqueline Spies shows some of the damage to a memorial at the Sally Wellman Memorial Garden on the Seawalk. A number of memorials have been damaged recently.

An area set aside to give grieving families peace has been subject to disturbing vandalism recently.

The Sally Wellman Memorial Garden on the Seawalk at Rotary Park was created to provide a space where families could commemorate loved ones who have passed on, particularly if their remains have been put to rest somewhere other than Campbell River.

But a volunteer with the society came upon a disturbing sight this week when she found plaques and memorials vandalized.

“Somebody was in there and pulled off the plaques and things,” said Jacqueline Spies, director of programs and operations for the Campbell River Hospice Society. “I cannot even put it into words, that’s how much it disgusts me.”

Spies said the hospice volunteer found plaques cracked and ripped off of their displays and tossed 5-10 feet away.

Spies said if families want to check their memorials to determine what the damage is, they can contact Hospice (250-286-1121) and they will do what they can to fix it up.

Also, if any members of the public could keep an eye on the garden and report any disturbance, it would be appreciated, Spies said.