RCMP are investigating after unknown assailants vandalised Flin Flon's most notable roadside attraction this weekend.
Restoration work at the Flinty statue took a turn July 11 after the statue itself and its base were spraypainted. The vandalism was discovered Saturday morning. The statue is currently undergoing restoration work for the first time in nearly 30 years and is surrounded by scaffolding.
The vandals are thought to have climbed the scaffolding set up around the statue and used black spray paint, covering Flinty’s face with multiple penises, an Adolf Hitler mustache and spraying the words “We want peace” on the stone base. Most of the spray paint on the statue’s face had been covered over as of July 12, but the spray paint on the base still remained.
The vandalism appeared to be a spontaneous, non-premeditated act - RCMP have determined that the spray paint used was likely found by the vandals at the restoration site, not brought to the scene. Black spray paint has been used by restorers to cover over some of the statue's details, including the eyebrows, mouth and shadows.
No arrests have yet been made in the incident.
“We are still hoping for anyone that has information to share it with us,” said Flin Flon RCMP Sgt. Mark Svaren.
Karen MacKinnon, a Flin Flon city councillor and past-president of the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce, has helped lead efforts to raise money to fix the statue. When she found out about the vandalism July 11, she was floored.
“When I heard about it today, I was disgusted, to put it frankly.”
“I was very upset. Not only is this Flin Flon’s representative - Flinty is Flin Flon - but the statue was being repaired and they would have been finished [Saturday].”
It is unknown how much money fixing the vandalism may add to the total price tag for repairs. The project was financed through fundraising by the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce (which raised around $20,000) and a top-up from the City of Flin Flon, who offered up to $10,000 to cover any shortfalls with repairs. Another $10,000 is still needed to fully finance the repairs - where that money may come from is unknown.
A cash reward has been offered for information in the vandalism case.
“We will get them fixed. This in no way reflects what Flin Flon is. This is, whether it’s one person or a few people we don’t know, but this doesn’t reflect who we are and I’d like people to know that,” MacKinnon said.
