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Losing battle against graffiti a sign of the times 
Sign offering $1,000 reward for identifying vandals ordered removed by city

Alexandra Zabjek The Edmonton Journal

Thursday, February 08, 2007

CREDIT: John Lucas, The Journal Sylvie Dassylva, vice-principal of Ecole Publique Gabrielle-Roy, stands Wednesday in front of a school shed covered in graffiti.

EDMONTON - A Strathearn apartment manager who posted a sign offering a $1,000 reward for help in finding a graffiti vandal says the City of Edmonton thwarted her efforts to stop the vandalism by ordering her to remove the sign.

A spate of graffiti vandalism at the Strathearn Heights Apartments in southeast Edmonton prompted Marilee Eldridge to erect a portable sign outside one of the buildings in mid-January.

The sign read, "Who did graffiti? $1,000 reward."

Eldridge, general manager of the Strathearn Apartments, also listed her cellphone number.

"We haven't been tagged since the sign went up," said Eldridge, referring to how some graffiti vandals leave a specific mark or design on buildings.

Within a couple of weeks, Eldridge received a tip about the vandal's identity and contacted police, who are looking into the case. She then posted a new message on the sign, this time listing the first name of the alleged culprit.

On Feb. 1, Eldridge received a notice from the city stating she would need a permit for her sign.

"It's frustrating, because we're trying to do something to keep the beauty of the area," Eldridge said. "The city won't allow us to have a sign that's curbing, 100 per cent, graffiti on our property."

When Eldridge tried applying for the appropriate permit, she was denied.

City officials admit they sent Eldridge a notice about signage but said the initial letter was intended to address a sign advertising rental suites, for which Eldridge didn't have a permit.

However, Paul Kozak, from the city's planning and development department, noted that no portable signs are allowed in Strathearn -- a low-density, mainly residential area -- due to zoning bylaws.

"Portable signs are appropriate in some locations, but not in all," he said.

Kozak insisted the city isn't being overzealous with its bylaw enforcement. Officials won't go after every sign that doesn't have city approval, such as small "No Parking" signs which residents may place in front of their homes, he said.

"But there are some things we should be able to execute judicious control over, and portable signs is one of them," said Kozak.

Eldridge said she understands the need for bylaws, but added, "I think we need to work together and in this situation maybe they could just turn the other eye."

The graffiti at the Strathearn Apartments has caused thousands of dollars worth of damage, said Eldridge, whose company must pay to have the areas repainted.

Private homes in the area also have been targeted, along with the Ecole Publique Gabrielle-Roy, at 8728 93rd Ave., which opened its doors last September. The school is dotted with graffiti on its walls, some windows and the pavement around some entranceways.

"Our janitors have to use special products to clean off the graffiti, and that takes time, money and energy" said the school's vice-principal, Sylvie Dassylva.

She has tried to use the graffiti as an educational tool.

"We try to use it as a teaching tool to explain to students why it's not good."

azabjek@thejournal.canwest.com