Swastika Graffiti Found at Canadian Jewish Summer Camp

Swastikas and explicit images were found spray-painted on a Canadian Jewish summer camp in mid-December.

Camp Miriam committee member Kelley Korbin told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Dec. 30 that the graffiti was found on Dec. 17 on multiple camp buildings.

“This is the first time in my memory that Camp Miriam has been a direct recipient of an attack like that,” she said, adding that Camp Miriam has been in existence for more than 50 years.

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver CEO Ezra Shanken told the Vancouver NEWS 1130 radio station, “It’s almost like no corner of the globe is immune. We’re talking about a camp sitting on an island in the Strait that has not so many people on it.”

Member of the Legislative Assembly Sheila Malcolmson tweeted on Dec. 30 that the “shameful #antisemitic graffiti has been painted over (fresh green on siding). I’m sickened that anyone on #Gabriola is so hateful. Just happy camper rainbow paint remains!”

As #menorah candles are lit this 8th day of #Hanukkah, I went to #HabonimCampMiriam today: shameful #antisemitic graffiti has been painted over (fresh green on siding).
I’m sickened that anyone on #Gabriola is so hateful.
Just happy camper rainbow paint remains!#SpreadLight pic.twitter.com/z04gDXJasK

— Sheila Malcolmson (@s_malcolmson) December 30, 2019

Camp Miriam, which is located on British Columbia’s Gabriola Island, describes itself on its website as a camp for Jewish youth ranging from second grade to 11^th grade. “Campers learn about Israel, Jewish history, social justice and the environment,” the website states. “From kayaking and sports to special days: from Shabbat at the Point and Israeli dancing to overnight hiking trips – there’s adventure and a little magic for everyone at Miriam.”

Canadian government hate crime statistics released in July found that anti-Semitic hate crimes declined from 360 in 2017 to 347 in 2018; however, Jews were the most targeted minority group in the country in 2018.

B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn said at the time that the statistics showed “that anti-Semitic hate crimes remain an urgent concern, with one occurring almost every day of the year, on average.”