Roll it out
New police, fire vehicle aids Saanich in disasters Page A4
COMMUNITY: Splashing success in a rounded life /A3 SPORTS: Camosun names top student athletes /A15 NEWS: UVic partners with IBM for ocean research /A19
SAANICHNEWS Wednesday, April 16, 2014
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Mykel Furgason, from Pacific Coast Power Washing, uses a pressure washer to remove graffiti from the Seaton underpass.
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through Saanich last week checking up on many of his prior projects and reports that little vandalism had reappeared. He believes, based on the presence of graffiti elsewhere in the expansive municipality, that many residents don’t know or are unaware of how they can help combat unwanted art. “I see it building up and getting worse and worse, and running the town down. It’s easy to remove it and discourages more of it from coming back,” Butterfield says. “Take
some ownership, take some pride and (do) not let the vandals take over the neighbourhood and run our neighbourhoods down.” He hopes to get others involved in the fight by promoting the free graffiti removal kits available through Saanich public works (250-475-5599). These kits include paint, brushes, gloves, disposable coveralls and visibility safety vests. PlEASE SEE: Cleanup boosts pride in community, Page A9
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Police, municipality promote cleanup and maintenance of public areas
removal over all departments, and residents are critical elements to the neverending graffiti puzzle, he says. Brian Butterfield, who lives in the Quadra neighbourhood, engaged in the battle about two years ago. Since then, he’s painted more than 300 telephone poles – a common canvas for graffiti tags. “It’s a huge sense of satisfaction when I’m doing it,” he says. “I feel empowered. I’m making a difference.” Butterfield took a four-hour cruise
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Saanich residents wage war on graffiti Nefarious deeds take place behind overgrown brush between homes and the Seaton Street pedestrian underpass. It’s an area where used needles and other trash are found. All the concrete, rocks and light fixtures in the tunnel that runs underneath the Trans-Canada Highway are splashed in paint, marker and even white out graffiti. “There are things (drawn) at eye level that kids shouldn’t be seeing or reading,” says Saanich police Const. Mark Pamminger. Some tags are absurd, others obscene. Pamminger, the police department’s graffiti co-ordinator and a bike section member, is happy all the vandalism will be gone this week. Saanich crews and a contractor power-washed the marked up surfaces last week, and are expected to finish painting over everything this afternoon (April 16). “Some see graffiti as art (but) it’s vandalism when it’s not consensual. It’s not their property,” Pamminger says. “As artists they want to be seen. If you paint over it, why would they come back? The faster you remove graffiti the less they will return.” He cites personal anecdotal evidence in another area of Saanich where a business on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail took personal pride in their concrete wall. It was tagged five times, and every time the business owner quickly painted over the damage. The amount of graffiti in that area has dropped. The quick removal plan is in place for Seaton, thanks to regular patrols by Saanich police officers and municipal staff. “The police alone can’t deal with this,” Pamminger says. “It’s a collaborative approach. Police are just facilitating the movement. It’s a community issue.” Assistance from the municipality, which allots roughly $100,000 a year for graffiti
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