The St. Peter Quamichan Church wants its banner back.
A large banner that is used by the church to advertise an outreach program, called Messy Church, was taken from a chain-link fence around Cowichan Lodge at the Tzouhalem and Maple Bay roads’ roundabout some time in the evening of Jan. 10.
Church spokeswoman Paulette De Silva said she and the other organizers of the monthly Messy Church, in which participants prepare “messy” crafts, followed by music and a dinner, are devastated by the theft of the banner.
She said it cost about $250 to create, which doesn’t sound like much but is to a church with a small budget.
“We’ve been putting the banner, which is about eight foot by four foot, up for a week of every month for the last five months to let people know that the next Messy Church event is coming up, and this is the first time anything has ever happened to it,” De Silva said.
“The theft of the banner took place on the same night as the school buses were caught on fire just up the street, but we don’t know if there’s any connection.”
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De Silva said anyone who may have information on the theft, or can return the banner, can call the church office at 250-746-6262.