A blurred image of the painted-over vandalism at Crescent Heights High School. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Gates Guarin

Damage estimated at $5,000

Crescent Heights High School hit with vandalism

Nov 3, 2022 | 5:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat police and school administrators are looking to find those responsible for vandalizing Crescent Heights High School over the weekend.

Police say around 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, six individuals gained access to the school’s roof and proceeded to spray paint the exterior of the building, including several skylights.

Shonna Barth, principal of Crescent Heights, says she was disappointed to receive the news over the weekend.

“We spend a lot of pride and time on working on our values of equality and respect and responsibility, and I don’t think those present that at all,” Barth says. “So I’m very optimistic that it wouldn’t be anybody from our school who would be involved in this, but I definitely would like the people involved to be held accountable.”

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Barth says staff were called in on Sunday to begin the cleaning process, which lasted between four and five hours. She says staff did not want the messages and images, which were racist and homophobic in nature, to be seen by students come Monday morning.

It is estimated the cost of the damage is approximately $5,000. Barth says suspensions, expulsion and police involvement are all avenues the school is exploring.

Letters of the school’s “Home of the Vikings” sign were also damaged and several were taken off the wall. Const. Brent Bohrn, school resource officer for Crescent Heights, says for the community to be on the lookout for the whereabouts of the letters. Bohrn says the vandalism sends the wrong message to students.

“It’s disappointing for the students, right? Like, this is where they spend their day, Monday to Friday,” Bohrn says. “They take pride in this building and take care of it, and so when people come and damage it, whether it’s other students or adults or whoever caused this damage, it’s disappointing. They want to have a positive environment here, and it’s been tarnished.”

Anyone who may have information are asked to contact Crescent Heights high school or the police non-emergency line at 403-529-8481, or through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Those submitting tips can do so anonymously.