Durham Regional Police are appealing for witnesses after multiple swastikas were found etched into the washroom walls of Whitby’s Central Library, marking the latest in a troubling pattern of hate-motivated graffiti incidents in the town.
The most recent discovery occurred on January 28, when library staff reported finding yet another swastika carved into the washroom wall. An investigator from the Central-West Division Criminal Investigations Branch had been at the library that day to review surveillance footage from two prior incidents—one on January 10 and another on January 27—when staff alerted them to the latest defacement.
Officers first responded to reports of swastikas in the library washroom on January 10, when an employee discovered several small hate symbols etched into the wall. Police were unable to identify any suspects at the time. Nearly three weeks later, additional swastikas were found in the same washroom, prompting another police response.
This is not the first time Whitby has faced similar acts of antisemitic vandalism. Last month, swastikas were also discovered at the same library, and in August 2024, a swastika was burned into a playing field at Prince of Wales Park.
Town Mayor Elizabeth Roy has strongly condemned the incidents, while Councillor Chris Leahy has vowed to introduce a motion to ban Nazi symbols in response to the repeated hate-motivated acts.
Durham Police continue to investigate and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Witnesses can contact Cst. Bandstra of the Central West Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1805.