660 City News reports that across Calgary, Alberta many Churches have been targeted on Canada Day, among those Churches was Sacred Heart Church and Columbarium. The vandalism spree follows after the announcement of remains being found at multiple former Residential Schools. On Canada Day eve and just a few days before, multiple Churches had been hit with graffiti vandalism and a number of them have been burned. Red paint has been splashed and smeared on outer doors and walls, hand prints, messages and signages left on steps, railings and staircases. The Calgary Police force has maintained its understanding during these investigations and asks openly for the public’s aid in identifying suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact them directly.
Update as reported by CBC News
The vandal who threw red paint on the building and on the statue of Jesus at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Columbarium was given a three month sentence which he will serve in his home followed by a nine month probationary period. The vandal, Sebastian Rodriguez-Huerta admitted to vandalizing 4 churches in the surrounding area after police observed CCT video footage of him committing the acts of vandalism. The acts of vandalism follow the release of the 182 umarked grave sites found near the former St. Eugene Mission School on June 30, 2021.
Rodriguez-Huerta was caught after police Deputy Matt Bachelor observed Rodriguez-Huerta on camera of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Bachelor also recognized Rodriguez-Huerta from a Black Lives Matter protest after more than a month later. Realizing that this might be the same person, Bachelor then took pictures of him. The sherrifs who reviewed Bachelor’s photos and evidence noticed that Rodriguez-Huerta’s bag was the same in both the CCT video footage and the photos.
Soon after they found Rodriguez-Huerta’s social media and were able to ascertain a search warrant. This lead to the discovery of the red splattered shirt and shorts that Rodriguez-Huerta had been wearing at the time of the vandalism, along with the bag that had been present.
Rodriguez-Huerta’s actions were deemed a hate motivated as he had grown up as Catholic in Venezuela and had later moved to Canada. He felt betrayed by the Church. The sentencing happened earlier in the year, and Defence Lawyer, Chad Haggerty sought out a conditional discharge for Rodriguez-Huerta. Prosecutor William Tran had offered a suspended sentencing wherein Rodriguez-Huerta would serve no jail time unless there was a breach of the conditions. The Justice, Paul Mason, however, gave a harder sentencing that what the Defence and the Crown proposed.