Mounties were first alerted to the situation around 10 a.m. Sunday by a school employee. Investigators say the pig was domesticated and its head was cut off with blades, adding that its placement in the center of the crosswalk appears to be deliberate and designed to annoy parents and staff. Police are treating the incident as a possible hate crime because the school has a gay-straight alliance. “A common man might think this was a prank. An objective viewer would see it as highly intolerant and provocative,” said Staff Sgt. Ian Gillan of the Parkland RCMP said in a written statement. “We want to emphasize to the public how seriously we take incidents like this. Our community needs to feel safe for everyone who lives in it, and especially in a school. It’s really terrible that this could be seen by children and students,” said Cst. Sarah Williams of the Parkland RCMP. The Parkland School Division released a written statement regarding the incident. “We were shocked and saddened to learn of such a despicable act and direct display of aggression towards the LGBTQS+ community,” said supporter Shauna Boyce. “Any attack on a minority, and especially on children, is reprehensible and we hope that whoever is responsible for this will be exposed and brought to justice. As an act like this is traumatic, there is much-needed support for school staff and students who may feel targeted by this discovery.” Police are now looking for anyone who may have been in the area between the afternoon of October 15th and the late morning of October 16th, who may have information about mutilated pigs or butchers or meat packers who may have recently sold or had a pork head stolen to call the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
