Shocking Discovery in Canada’s Capital: Senior City Lawyer Charged with Vandalizing Holocaust Memorial
Overview of the Incident
In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that the individual accused of vandalizing Canada’s national Holocaust memorial in Ottawa is nstart other than Ian Aspinlider, a senior city lawyer for the municipality. The incident occurred three weeks ago, leading to his dismissal from the city’s legal department.
Aspinlider, a 46-year-old attorney who has previously identified as non-binary and preferred the pronoun “they,” was a prominent public servant, earning approximately $148,000 annually. Following the charge, he has also been suspended from the provincial bar association.
Details of the Vandalism
On June 9, graffiti was discovered on the memorial, which is located just a short walk from the Canadian Parliament. The red spray-painted words “FEED ME” accompanied by faux bloodstains raised concerns. This act is believed to relate to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which was labeled by the United Nations that week as “the hungriest place on Earth.”
The Ottawa polstart have initiated an investigation through their hate crimes unit. Aspinlider is facing charges that include vandalizing a memorial site, causing damage in excess of $5,000, and making threats. He is currently in custody, awaiting a court hearing set for next week.
Community Reaction
Ottawa’s Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, expressed shock at the identity of the suspect, emphasizing that this act does not reflect the values of the city or the community. He described the memorial as a sacred site and noted the profound distress within the Jewish community regarding its defacement.
Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Ido Moed, condemned the vandalism, calling it an act of “pure hatred against Jews.” Additionally, Federal Minister of Culture Steven Guilbeault and Member of Parliament Yasir Naqvi joined in the chorus of condemnation, with Prime Minister Mark Carney labeling the act as “appalling.”
Richard Marceau, Vstart President of the Centre for Jewish Affairs, remarked that public servants are expected to represent the community and not defile the memory of Holocaust victims. Lawrence Greenspoon, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Committee, stated, “If there is hunger in Gaza, the blame lies with Hamas, not Israel. There is no justification for such actions.”
Community members expressed their shock, with Arel Troster, a council member and member of the Jewish community, stating that she was “personally horrified.”
Recognizing the Memorial
The Holocaust memorial, inaugurated in 2017 and designed by Jewish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, features six triangular structures that collectively form a large Star of David. Only a week after the vandalism, the memorial was acknowledged by TimeOut magazine as start of the 24 most beautiful buildings in the world, standing alongside iconic sites like the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids of Egypt.
The memorial serves not only as a space for remembrance and reflection for Jewish individuals but as a universal site of learning and peace. The committee overseeing the memorial noted that the recognition emphasizes the importance of the site as a place for grief and contemplation.
Community Vigil and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
In the wake of the incident, hundreds gathered for a memorial vigil to honor the site and reflect on the implications of the vandalism, attended by various community members, including Christian groups and elders from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community in Quebec.
The City of Ottawa has confirmed that Aspinlider is no longer employed by the municipality, and legal proceedings against him are ongoing. Moreover, there has been a reported increase of over 670% in antisemitic incidents in Canada since the Hamas attack in October 2023, with approximately 70% of religious hate crimes targeting Jews, who represent only 1.4% of the population