Progress Flags Vandalized Outside Indigo Lounge

Thursday, 16 June 2022 at 11:32

The two Progress flags outside the Indigo Lounge, Wellness Centre and Eatery in Tillsonburg were vandalized earlier this week.

TILLSONBURG - It's another case of vandalism involving Progress flags in Oxford County.

The most recent incident happened in Tillsonburg earlier this week.

Kelly Spencer, the owner of the Indigo Lounge, Wellness Centre and Eatery, hung two flags on a fence outside her business and found them both vandalized Tuesday morning.

"The flags had been removed off the fence where they were, slashed with a knife, burned holes in it and rubbed with something brown, I'm assuming dirt or mud."

Spencer says the culprit also left her a note filled with threats and homophobic slurs. She adds the note was left in a plastic bag to possibly protect it from the elements.

"This was well thought out. It wasn't a random walk-by because you couldn't see the flags from the road anyway. I'm assuming somebody saw pictures on social media and had it planned."

She has contacted police and an Oxford OPP investigation is currently underway.

Spencer has also reached out to Mayor Stephen Molnar, the BIA, the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Oxford, Oxford County Pride and Oxford County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Ayesha Sajid in hopes of having a roundtable discussion on the matter.

"I think we need to as business owners, as business leaders, as organization leaders, and as town leaders need to come up with a unified front of unity and inclusivity."

Spencer also posted pictures of the vandalism on social media, and she has received lots of support from the community ever since.

"What I know to be true is that more people love than hate, but hate is very unnerving. It is a small group of people that are hating and if we can do anything right now, it's to start speaking up more and not allow people to talk in our presence in ways that are hateful."

Spencer first opened the Indigo Lounge, Wellness Centre and Eatery 11 years ago. She says the fence was put up during the pandemic and she has hung the Progress flags on it over the past few years without incident.