‘This was targeted’ Vandals cause about $10K in damage to Caledonia Christmas light up display
It will cost about $10,000 to rebuild the Christmas lights display in Kinsmen Park, but it's probably not going to happen this year.
We simply do not have the capacity to make repairs before Christmas and material availability will now be a problem," said Mike Montgomery.
For years, Montgomery and Adam Harrison ran a seasonal light display at the Caledonia Old Mill before taking a few years off. Then in 2018, the pair put together a small display in the park.
In 2019, they, along with several other groups (including Caledonia Community Foundation and the Caledonia Regional Chamber of Commerce's Special Projects Committee), decided that they would combine their efforts to make an ongoing and growing display for the community each Christmas season.
Montgomery said he and other volunteers were at the site the evening of Nov. 24, setting everything up so that it would be ready for the Lights Along the Grand light up ceremony taking place the following evening.
However, on the afternoon of Nov. 25, extensive damage was discovered," Montgomery said.
Person(s) went through the display with wire cutters and cut through lights all over the display. They meticulously visited each item in the display and made sure it would not work.
This was not the work of casual vandals or kids'; this was targeted."
The OPP is investigating, and asks anyone with information regarding this incident to call 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave a message online at www.helpsolvecrime.com. You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Donations towards the display can also be made on GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/caledonia-lights-along-the-grand. E-transfers can also be sent to ccfgrandlights@gmail.com.
In a Facebook post announcing that the light up ceremony would not be going ahead as planned, Caledonia BIA director Kathy Marshall said, In one night, vandals destroyed years of work. This type of senseless and destructive behaviour is not the Caledonia way."
The Caledonia BIA is collecting donations of Christmas lights at its 86 Caithness Street East office.