If we find out who did this, please refrain yourself from making more pain or hatred in the world. This project was built out of love.
SARAH BURK-SIMPSON, on the theft of a memorial to her son, who died of cancer.
The family of Parker Simpson, the eight-year-old Elgin, Ont. child whose memorial pavilion was vandalized last weekend, issued a statement on Wednesday, urging the public to adopt a kinder response to the incident.
“We appreciate those who have intense feelings about this act of crime,” wrote Parker’s mother, Sarah Burk-Simpson in an email sent to media, “but if we find out who did this, please refrain yourself from making more pain or hatred in the world. This project was built out of love.”
Following Parker’s death from cancer in 2017, friends, family and community members pitched in to erect a “Park it with Parker” pavilion at South Crosby Public School. The pavilion included a wooden, two-metre high, hand-carved Star Wars stormtrooper to remind visitors of Parker’s love of the popular franchise. Last weekend, a vandal, or vandals, chainsawed the trooper at its ankles and removed it.
“Our family is deeply saddened that someone would do this to his memorial pavilion,” Burk-Simpson wrote. “The school and community raised over $20,000 to build this area to remember Parker but also a space for friends to hang out.”
As well as urging the public to show restraint in its response to whoever may have committed the crime, Parker’s mother also asked that people not disparage the community where the incident occurred, and focus instead on finding the culprit(s).
“Please don’t dishonour the community. Many comments have been made about the town. This is unfair. This is the community that helped raise funds for our family when we were sick. This is the community who helped make this project to a reality. An act of stupidity of one or a few people, does not define a community.
“We have had offers around the world to help replace this item,” she added. “At this time, we ask that you focus on sharing this story and pictures of the statue; keep an eye open for it; and report anything that is useful information to the OPP. Fundraising can and will be looked at within a few weeks. At this point, we need to find who did this.
“As we have said for the last few years, go home and hug your loved ones. Life is too short.”
Anyone with information can contact the Rideau Lakes OPP at 613-283-6911.