Skip to main content

Paint damage to Ottawa's rainbow crosswalk was accidental, police say

Ottawa police are investigating after paint was apparently splashed and spread across a rainbow Pride crosswalk at Bank and Somerset. (Photo Credit: Matt Elliott) Ottawa police are investigating after paint was apparently splashed and spread across a rainbow Pride crosswalk at Bank and Somerset. (Photo Credit: Matt Elliott)
Share
OTTAWA -

Ottawa police say paint damage to the rainbow crosswalk in Ottawa's Centretown neighbourhood last month was accidental.

Photos showed a significant amount of white paint was splashed onto the ground near the crosswalk at the corner of Bank and Somerset streets and spread across it on Aug. 27,

The Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit investigated the incident after it was reported to police three weeks ago.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Thursday, police say the investigation determined the paint damage to the rainbow crosswalk was accidental.

"Surveillance video showed that paint began to spill out of the bed of a pick-up truck before the vehicle went through the crosswalk. Further damage occurred when other vehicles drove through the paint and into the crosswalk," said police.

"Police is advising Ottawa residents and the 2SLGBTQ+ community that the incident, although regrettable, was not criminal nor an act of hatred or intolerance."

The paint damage occurred during Pride Week in Ottawa.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.

Stay Connected