Hate crime investigation underway after vandals target school in Mississauga 

A west Mississauga high school/community centre was targeted by vandals who left numerous spray-painted anti-Israel hate messages on the outer walls of the building and on the concrete walkway leading to the main entrance.

The significant amount of graffiti was discovered early Tuesday morning outside the large building on Erin Centre Boulevard that houses St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in addition to Erin Meadows Community Centre and Library.

Peel Regional Police told INsauga.com they received a call reporting the vandalism just before 7:30 a.m. and the force’s Hate Crime Unit is now investigating the incident.

Police said graffiti was spray painted “on the side of the building as well as on the ground near the front entrance of the school.”

A member of a cleanup crew works to erase hate graffiti early Tuesday afternoon at the Mississauga high school/community centre. (Photo: INsauga.com)

A Peel police spokesperson added the investigation is in its early stages and no arrests have been made.

One person at the scene described the amount of hate graffiti as “significant” and “extensive.”

They added many people entering and leaving the high school/community centre around the noon hour didn’t appear to be taking much notice of the hate messages.

A woman at the scene told INsauga.com, “this is terrible. They shouldn’t be doing this at a school. (There’s) too much hatred in the world.”

A power-washing team arrived at the school/community centre just before noon to begin cleaning up the site.

— with files from Steve Pecar

The entrance to St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School/Erin Meadows Community Centre on Tuesday morning. (Photo: INsauga.com)