Port Alberni RCMP say the “Welcome to Bamfield” sign was vandalized twice in August, with “irreplaceable” carvings stolen from it.
The sign features a map of the Bamfield area and had four small carvings surrounding it — a Steller’s jay, an eagle, a bear and a tree. Only the tree is left. The jay was stolen years ago.
The sign and carvings were made by the late artist Al Porter and are his artistic legacy to the community, police said.
“The Welcome to Bamfield sign has just been there forever and it means a lot to the people here, largely because of who Al Porter was,” said Lisa Herbig of Bamfield’s Centennial Park.
“It’s just so disappointing to have had this happen to our sign.”
The Bamfield Community Affairs Society is offering a reward of up to $1,000.
Port Alberni RCMP ask anyone with information to call them at 250-723-2424 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Herbig said tips can be submitted to Russell Dyson, chief administrative officer of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, at 250-720-2700.
