Cement deer poached from popular Hwy. 17 rest stop
Municipal officials and provincial police are baffled by the theft of some unique deer in the northern Ontario community of Elliot Lake.
An undated photo of one of the deer sculptures that were once displayed at the Trailhead Pavilion near Elliot Lake, Ont. (Supplied/Explore Elliot Lake)
Three cement deer sculptures seem to have been poached this week from the Trailhead Pavilion at the Highway 108 turnoff on Highway 17 sometime between Sunday and Monday evening.
This is just the most recent heist from the pavilion site as a statue of a doe and fawn was also reported missing in late April while the vehicle stop was closed for the winter.
A popular rest stop for Highway 17 travellers, the pavilion marks the start of the 120-kilometre Deer Trail Driving Tour for tourists and the deer outside the information centre has been well-known landmark for many years.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed with CTV News that they have opened a criminal investigation into the incidents.
The thieves would have had to cut the metal sculptures from the poured concrete pads to which they were attached.
A concrete pad at Trailhead Pavilion near Elliot Lake, Ont., where a deer sculpture has been stolen. (Photo courtesy of Charlene Puzak)
However, unfortunately, both statues that have been popular props for ‘selfies’ for more than a generation are now gone.
The City of Elliot Lake had been maintaining the sculptures, trail and pavilion.
School trustee Marie Murphy-Foran was part of the team that helped get them installed and previously worked with the trail, she told CTV News that she is disappointed by the incidents.
"There's all kinds of people in the world and all kinds of people that figure that they are entitled to take things that don't belong to them,” she said.
“We have truckers that have stopped there to take pictures, you know they are new to Canada and they are trucking across, they have taken pictures with the deer.”
Murphy-Foran said many people relied on those figures for directions and tourism.
“I am so disappointed,” she said.
“Whoever took them you know, please bring them back."
An undated image of one of the deer sculptures that were once displayed at the Trailhead Pavilion near Elliot Lake, Ont. (City of Elliot Lake/Promotional Video)
Elliot Lake city staff said the previous theft was chalked up to a random act at the time and it is unknown whether the same culprits are behind this week's theft.
The city would like to get the deer back and is asking anyone who witnessed the theft or has seen the deer since to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Police in several cities to increase presence ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
On the anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, police departments in cities across Canada are increasing their presence in Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as at the locations of planned protests.
Israelis, scarred and battling on multiple fronts, mark a year since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack
Israelis were holding vigils and sombre ceremonies on Monday to mark a year since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, the deadliest in the country's history, which sparked the war in Gaza and scarred Israelis indelibly.
DEVELOPING Milton increases to a Category 2 hurricane as Florida prepares for massive evacuations
Milton increased to a Category 2 hurricane early Monday as Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm heads toward major population centres including Tampa and Orlando.
Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, dead at 63
Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.
Beef jelly tongue products sold in London, Kitchener and southwestern Ontario recalled
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible Listeria contamination for more than a dozen brands of beef jelly tongue products sold in Ontario.
Timeline: What has happened in Canada since Oct. 7, 2023
The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas fighters on Israel last year, and the immediate Israeli retaliation that followed, sent shockwaves throughout the world that have shaken Canada culturally and politically.
Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
Fighting in Sudan's North Darfur kills at least 13 children, UNICEF says
Fighting between the Sudanese military and its rival paramilitary in Sudan 's North Darfur killed at least 13 children and injured four others, UNICEF said.
New Far North hospital moves closer to being built after $1.8B design, build contract awarded
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.