Whistler police are investigating vandalism to the exterior of Myrtle Philip Community School as well as three school buses.
The RCMP was notified the morning of Sunday, May 30 of graffiti to a sign and exterior wall by the school’s gymnasium, which police believe happened sometime the night of Friday, May 28.
Then, when maintenance crews arrived at the school on Sunday to clean up the tags, they noticed three school buses that were also vandalized. Investigators suspect the buses were likely damaged on Saturday night, May 29 “because we believe it would have been reported at the time of the first incident” if it had happened the day before, said Cpl. Nate Miller.
The tags are “really rudimentary,” Miller added, “which makes me believe it might be someone younger.”
With no witnesses to the incidents, police were hoping to review security footage from the school, but Miller said the cameras weren’t operational at the time. Mounties also searched the area for any sign the suspects may have left behind, such as spray paint cans, but had no luck.
The RCMP is asking anyone who may have spotted someone in the area on Friday or Saturday night, or with any other relevant information, to contact the detachment at 604-932-3044, or Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.
Sea to Sky RCMP’s new Officer-in-Charge introduced to Whistler council
Whistler elected officials got their first public face-to-face with the Sea to Sky RCMP’s new Officer-in-Charge at Tuesday’s council meeting, held over Zoom.
Insp. Robert Dykstra takes over from Insp. Kara Triance, who left the role last summer. It was first announced in February that Dykstra would be overseeing police operations for Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, Lions Bay, Bowen Island, D’Arcy and Birken. He recently relocated to Whistler with his wife after serving the past seven years in Nunavut.
“A lot of learning went into that and one of the biggest challenges that I learned [in Nunavut] was just about making sure that you're engaging with people and that you're compassionate and kind,” Dykstra said to council. “That's the only way I think policing should be done and that's the experience and also the perspective I bring to policing operations, and what I expect my members to do.”
Dykstra began his policing career 14 years ago in Nova Scotia, where he spent time in the major crimes unit, which he described as “one of his loves.” Prior to that, he worked for the federal government, including a stint at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in Ottawa.
With his home and main office in Whistler, Dykstra said he is excited to get to know the community and learn more about the policing objectives here. “Every time I meet [someone], I have a tendency to say that and I can't express enough how excited I actually am to be here,” he said. “It's very much a dream come true.”
