Windows were smashed and racist graffiti was left on the home of a visible minority family in Summerland in July.
The incident occurred on Hespeler Road on the evening of July 13. Two rocks were thrown through windows and racist graffiti, including swastikas, was left in red paint on the side of the house.
The homeowners were home at the time of the incident.
The Indo-Canadian Lekhi family had lived in Summerland since 1987 and built the house in 1990. The children grew up in Summerland and attended school in the community.
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“This has never happened before. On this street, we’re all friends,” homeowner Kiran Lekhi said at the time.
Elsewhere, swastikas were spraypainted on the bandshell in Memorial Park on the same night.
Residents of Summerland responded to the news of the vandalism with shock.
Many expressed their support to the Lekhi family and offered to help the family repair the damage and repaint their home.
Because of this show of support, Abishek Lekhi, son of the couple whose home was vandalized, set up a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $2,500 to create a symbol of unity in the community. The goal was changed to $10,000, but the campaign topped $18,000 in donations.
On the evening of July 16, hundreds of Summerland residents drove past the home in a show of support for the family. Those in the parade waved Canadian flags and showed signs reading, “You are loved,” “We are all family,” “Hate has no home in Summerland” and other slogans.
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