Residents are expressing frustration after several headstones were damaged at Sooke’s historic cemetery on Maple Avenue, marking what some say is the worst case of vandalism the site has experienced.
The damage came to light after a community member shared photos on social media showing broken and toppled headstones. The post urged residents to respect the cemetery and report suspicious activity to help protect the historic site.
Among the damaged monuments was the grave of John Muir, a prominent figure in Sooke’s early history. Muir, who was born in Scotland in 1802 and died in Sooke in 1883, was an early forest industry pioneer and one of the community’s earliest settlers.
Murray Lambert, a member of the Sooke Lions Club, said the vandalism is especially upsetting because the cemetery honours people who helped build the community.
“It’s just not acceptable,” Lambert said. “Between the broken headstones and the headstones that have been pushed over, there’s no need for that whatsoever.”
Lambert said other cemeteries have been targeted before, but believes this incident is the most severe. “It’s happened at the same cemetery before, but I don’t think it’s ever happened to this degree,” he said. “I think this is the worst it’s ever been.”
To encourage anyone with information to come forward, Lambert said he would personally contribute a $100 reward for information leading to those responsible being reported to police.
“I would gladly give $100 toward any information that would lead to the person being reported to the police,” he said.
While Lambert said he does not know who is responsible, he hopes anyone with photos or videos from the incident will share them with police or Crime Stoppers.
Lambert said those responsible should be held accountable through community service, fines or by paying for the damage caused.
The District of Sooke said it was saddened by the reported damage at Millennium Memorial Park, calling cemeteries places of “remembrance, reflection and respect.”
“Damage to headstones and memorials is deeply upsetting for families, friends and the broader community,” Christina Moog, the district’s manager of communications and community relations, said in an emailed statement. “Everyone deserves to have the resting places of their loved ones treated with dignity.”
The district is encouraging anyone who witnesses vandalism, damage or suspicious activity to report it to the Sooke RCMP non-emergency line or anonymously through Crime Stoppers. It also urged residents to help protect shared public spaces by respecting memorial sites and reporting damage.
“Incidents like this are disheartening, but the response from community members reminds us that Sooke values its history, its shared spaces, and the people connected to them,” Moog said.