Maple Ridge Halloween display raises concerns about racism, suicide

MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – Neighbours in a Maple Ridge area are taking issue with some of the Halloween decorations on display on the front lawn of a home.

One woman who prefers not to be named tells NEWS 1130 the grisly display includes two dummies hanging by nooses, a guillotine, and a body cut open that wriggles when a sensor is activated.

The woman takes particular issue with setting up a public display featuring hanging bodies, which can be especially painful for Black people to see because of the history of lynching. During a year that has seen a global reckoning on racism sparked by deadly acts of racist violence, the woman says the display is a “slap in the face.”

“There’s a Black community out here in Maple Ridge, and this guy just does not seem to care,” she says.

In B.C. hundreds of people die by suicide every year, and she also worries about how the display could impact people who have lost a loved one, or who are struggling with their own mental health.

The woman says the display is “insulting” and feels the homeowners are glorifying the violence.

“It’s just such a disrespectful display to have, especially when they know the community is against it.”
Former broadcaster Tamara Taggart took to social media to express her disgust.

This disgusting scene is on display every Halloween in #MapleRidge The owners laugh at anyone who complains + the local paper lists it as a ‘house to visit’. My friend + her Black sons live nearby + see this lynching everyday. The bodies wiggle in the noose. This is not funny. pic.twitter.com/O36jlPd5Gr

— Tamara Taggart (@tamarataggart) October 31, 2020

Despite feedback from people in the community, the Maple Ridge mother says the owners have not addressed their concerns. Instead, she says she’s had to talk to her children about what they are seeing.

“Basically, it just seems like they don’t like being told what to do. And it’s kind of like a big ‘F you’ but they continue to do it every single year.”

According to the woman, many other people living in the area have expressed their concern since they need to pass by the house to drop their kids off at school.

“It’s very irresponsible homeownership,” she adds.

Homeowner says display is about ‘Medieval times’

But Calvin, who claims to be the homeowner responsible for the display, argues there is no racist intent behind the decorations.

“This is about Halloween. It’s is about Medieval times. There is absolutely no intent for a racial aspect,” he tells NEWS 1130.

“We don’t take light in suicide. I know that some people have lost people this way — to hanging. We are very, very sorry for that.”

The homeowner argues the display is for families and children to enjoy, despite the criticism it has received.

“Everybody has their concerns and opinions,” he says. That’s what makes it great, is that everyone has different views on it and we will be fighting it if they do try and have us take it down.”

In years to come, Calvin says he will be adding to the Halloween decorations with more props.

The woman who spoke to NEWS 1130 about her concerns is calling on the City of Maple Ridge to take action. The Maple Ridge mayor and a city councillor have responded.

“While this isn’t criminal, it is clearly offensive to many”

Maple Ridge mayor Mike Morden took to Facebook after he apparently received multiple negative responses about the homeowner’s Halloween displays.

Morden said the decorations are unacceptable and addressed the owners directly.

“Halloween is also supposed to be a kid-friendly event,” he said.

Recently the City of Maple Ridge passed a nuisance bylaw and Morden assures the display qualifies as a problem under the new bylaw.

“Our city had already responded however, we’ve only received two of the three complaints necessary to formally proceed with full enforcement,” he added.

Bylaw officers have worked with the property owner over the last two Halloween’s, but Morden claims the owner has had no interest to take the decorations down.

‘Shocking’, ‘disturbing’ but not with racist intentions 

Meanwhile, Maple Ridge Coun. Kiersten Duncan, responded to the post on Twitter, calling the display “disturbing.”

“When I first saw it, I did think it was a bit shocking. I think it’s a little far for a Halloween display,” she tells NEWS 1130.

Hi @tamarataggart, omg that is disturbing, I had no idea. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. As a Maple Ridge City Councillor I promise I will look into this immediately though I must admit I'm not sure what can be done. Surely there must be something, @michaelmorden?

— Councillor Kiersten L Duncan (@KierstenLDuncan) October 31, 2020

While Duncan says she finds it inappropriate, she doesn’t believe the intention behind it is depicting a lynching.

“I think it’s what many members of the public are perceiving it to be. I believe that’s why many people are upset about it and understandably so, and this is a very challenging time,” she says.

“I don’t believe the intentions are racist by the people that created this display.”

Duncan says she will be taking it seriously and speaking to the mayor and city council about the situation. She also wants to speak with the homeowner, “because I do think it’s important to address residents’ concerns.”

“I would love to hear further from people in the community, particularly people of colour, about how they feel about this display,” she adds.

Duncan says she welcomes the discussion about mental health and race in the community while “making sure we’re not depicting things that are inappropriate or cultural or racially insensitive.”

She says she supports people trying to monitor this.

“You have to really consider families when you’re decorating outdoors and you have to think about the young children you are going to be trick-or-treating and I think a display like that is very mature and can be a bit jarring,” she says.