Man charged with vandalism of National Holocaust Memorial is a city employee, mayor says
Posted Jun 28, 2025 10:55:05 AM.
Last Updated Jun 30, 2025 10:48:42 AM.
A man was charged following an act of vandalism on the National Holocaust Memorial earlier this month, and according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, that person is a City of Ottawa employee.
A press release from the Ottawa Police Service says a 46-year-old man has been charged with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct.
The incident occurred on the night of June 8, when police say the words “FEED ME” were painted in red across the memorial. The act sent shockwaves across the community with politicians and group leaders responding on social media.
“We were disgusted to learn that the National Holocaust Monument was defaced overnight,” Adam Silver, CEO & President of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa said in a statement released on Facebook the following morning.
“This is not just vandalism, it is an act of desecration against the memory of six million Jews and millions of other victims murdered in the Holocaust. It is an attack on Holocaust remembrance and on the dignity of survivors, their families, and our entire community,” Silver said.
Area MP Yasir Naqvi condemned the act calling it “a disgraceful, antisemitic act of vandalism.”
OPS has not released the name of the suspect but Mayor Sutcliffe said in a post on X that the suspect is a city employee.
“While it’s encouraging to see that the police investigation into the incident at the National Holocaust Monument has progressed, I’m very disturbed to learn that the person charged is a city employee who was on leave,” he wrote. “As a community and as an employer, the actions at the Monument do not represent our values.”
The mayor now said the man is no longer an employee with the city.
The investigation has been undertaken by OPS’ hate and crime bias unit. The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact authorities at 613-236-1222, extension 5625.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court Saturday.
– With files from Andrew Osmond
