Artists who are restoring a recently defaced mural in downtown Toronto honouring fallen Canadian soldiers were the target of abuse Sunday.
A group of artists spent the day fixing the “Highway of Heroes” mural, located near Yonge and College streets, in an attempt to bring it back to its original state after it was vandalized earlier this month.
Kedre Browne, one of the artists who volunteered his time Sunday, said objects were tossed from a building as he and others worked on the mural.
“Someone in the apartments behind us has been throwing stuff at us, like eggs, and then someone threw a bottle full of urine down behind us,” Browne said.
Despite the bizarre incident, Browne said he doesn’t think it has anything to do with the restoration, and that the positive response from the community for their efforts has been “tremendous.”
The vandalism of the mural, which once featured the image of an outstretched dove and a field of poppies, sparked outcry from the community.
The mural is one of the last things families of fallen Canadian soldiers see before their loved one’s repatriated remains are brought to the nearby coroner’s office.
More than 150 families have pulled into the alley next to the mural after their loved ones were killed.
A community youth group painted the mural, which was completed in 2010.
Police have launched an investigation to find those responsible for the vandalism.
