Public-artwork in spotlight following charges against Lethbridge man

Lethbridge organizations are responding to serious criminal charges laid against a local man amid public concern over a possible connection to a commissioned public artwork installed in 2007. City and arts officials have issued statements addressing the situation, although no official confirmation has identified the specific work linked to the accused.

In a release published last week, Lethbridge Police Service informed the public of sexual assault-related charges against a 50-year-old Lethbridge man. In a subsequent and recent Facebook post by the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, community members have been commenting and drawing connections between the police announcement and the public artwork, although no official link has been confirmed.

The Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge say they are reviewing next steps regarding the artwork as the situation develops.

BCN visited Galt Gardens Park, where the artwork in question is said to have been installed since 2007. There, handwritten notes were found expressing messages such as “Listen to victims,” “It should not be up to a child to stop a predator,” “Soon there will be nowhere else to look,” “Don’t look away,” “Stop making abusers presidents,” and “You can’t separate art from the artist.”

BCN also contacted the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, but no response was provided.