Westmount Public Security officers are adding a new weapon to their arsenal in the ongoing war against graffiti — a dictionary.
Following several complaints from local schools, PSOs are now keeping a sharp eye out for spelling mistakes in the graffiti sprayed or drawn onto public and private property around the city.
"It's becoming a real problem," PSO Lise Ouellette told The Examiner this week. "Some of the spelling is absolutely atrocious. And if it remains in view of our students — especially the more impressionable kids in elementary school — it could have a negative effect on their overall literacy."
The most common error, Ouellette pointed out, is the repeated use of the letter Z in place of S, as in 'gangz' or 'boyz'. "And there are many, many others," she said.
Public Works crews are kept busy cleaning up the vandalism, but some graffiti is left for several days before they get around to it. In such cases, PSOs have been issued felt-tipped markers and are instructed to correct the misspellings wherever possible.
"It's just a temporary measure," Ouellette explained. "But at least if it has to stay visible to the public for a period of time, it will be spelled correctly."
Misspelled graffiti concerns authorities
Misspelled graffiti concerns authorities
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