Barrhaven East candidate says campaign sign defaced with racist slur

Barrhaven East councillor candidate Jules Ruhinda says one of his campaign signs was vandalized with a racist slur over the weekend.

A photo on Ruhinda’s social media shows one of his campaign signs defaced with the N-word written in blue marker.

“I did not expect these things to happen when I decided to run,” Ruhinda told the Ottawa Citizen. “I thought it would be challenging, but I didn’t expect it to go to the level of racism and attacking my posters.”

Around five more of his campaign signs in and around Longfields Drive were cut up and taken down, he said. One sign contained the racial epithet.

“I will not live with fear or intimidation to participate in my democracy,” said Ruhinda, who is one of five candidates running for councillor in Barrhaven East.

“I believe everyone has the right to run for public office without being targeted because of their background. I’ll keep doing my campaign with dignity and courage and respect for residents.”

After calling the west-end suburb his home for more than 20 years, he believes the incident happened in isolation and is not reflective of his community.

“At the same time, I believe this is not Barrhaven,” he said. “It’s where I raised my three boys here, and I have chosen it to be my neighbourhood and to contribute to my community.”

Ruhinda said he contacted police on Oct. 10 and is waiting to hear back from investigators. While the Ottawa Police Service didn’t specifically mention Ruhinda’s report in an Oct. 13 statement to the Ottawa Citizen, police said 14 election campaign-related incidents were reported between Sept. 11 and Oct. 8, and added that updated information from crime analysts would be available later this week.

This is at least the second instance of candidate signs being vandalized with hateful messaging during this municipal election campaign, after Kitchissippi councillor candidate Subhir Uppal’s signs were defaced with swastikas last week.

Police said 11 of the election-related reports were specifically related to campaign signs being removed, damaged or destroyed since the start of the election sign period on Sept. 11, up until Oct. 8.

Other election-related reports to police included one incident involving a male canvassing for election who was being threatened; one report of an email being sent to a candidate which possibly contained hate-related content, which is currently being investigated by the hate unit, and one incident of a complaint of election signs blocking motorists’ vision.

“The Ottawa Police Service is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful municipal election process. Criminal offences such as threats, harassment, hate-based crimes, and damage to election signs will not be tolerated,” police wrote in a statement.

Incidents can be reported at 613-236-1222, extension 7300. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or crimestoppers.ca.