Lights stolen from war monument above Trans-Canada

By Peggy Revell on June 28, 2018.

prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell

The lights brightening up a monument to Medicine Hat’s Third Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 175th Infantry Battalion have been reported as stolen.

Medicine Hat Police Insp. Joe West says the four LED lights, worth more than $1,000 each, were taken from the monument at some point over the weekend from June 20-23.

“Obviously we’re looking for public help and any information they can provide us to recover them,” said West, adding that the Priority Street Crimes Unit will be looking for them.

“Our best chance at recovering them are if we get assistance from the public,” he added, saying the lights are about the size of a laptop.

Since its completion in 2017, the monument has become a welcome sight on the slope above Third Street NW as the public drives along the Trans-Canada Highway.

It honours the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 175th Infantry Battalion, which were major military units raised in Medicine Hat to support Canada’s efforts in the First World War — but is also dedicated to all veterans and fallen from the war.

The memorial was built by more than 100 volunteers working thousands of hours to place 72 tons of rocks, 8,300 bricks and 300 pieces of rebar.

— with files from Gillian Slade

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