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Kelowna  

Vandals damage piano next to Queensway bus loop

Queensway piano trashed

UPDATE: 4:45 p.m.

Festivals Kelowna executive director Renata Mills says it's unfortunate vandals destroyed the piano located across from the Queensway bus loop.

The piano was vandalized in the early morning hours sometime over the long weekend.

She adds witnesses believe it may have been a man and woman who did the deed.

Mills indicated three of the pianos were damaged, some extensively, during the summer.

The Queensway piano was a new location, at the request of the organization which is running the new washroom facility installed next to where the piano was situated.

This piano was kept out longer than the others in the program because people in the area were enjoying the music.

While the program is done for the season, Mills says when they return next year, she hopes people will keep a close eye on them, especially later in the evening.

"This has been the worst year we've had so far with damages to the pianos, two completely out of commission and a third had to be repaired too after it was attacked," she told Castanet News.

"If someone is out running or whatever, just keep your eyes open. It's always helpful when you have a community that has an extra set of ears and eyes to protect public assets like this. That's all we can do.

"This was purposeful. Three absolutely trashed in one year."


ORIGINAL; 12:20 p.m.

One of five pianos placed around the city by Festivals Kelowna has been hit by vandals.

Sometime over the long weekend, a vandal or vandals damaged the piano, which sits adjacent to the Bennett clock.

Many of the hammers were broken, preventing the keys from working properly.

After it was damaged, someone wrote "Goofs Do This' above the keys.

It's the second piano vandalized since the program returned at the end of June.

The piano in Stuart Park was out of commission for repairs due to vandalism.

A sign on that piano read in part, "unfortunately this piano is closed due to inappropriate behaviour and vandalism by a selfish person. We are hopeful we can repair it soon."

Other pianos are located at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, along the Art Walk and in Roxy Park in Rutland.



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