CONTENT WARNING: The following article contains graphic descriptions and images of violence towards elected officials.
Officials in a southern Manitoba municipality are alarmed by a disturbing exhibit that has appeared on a property, depicting local politicians hanging from a makeshift gallows.
Concerned about the display set up in a yard on Municipal Road 41E in Ste-Geneviève, part of the Rural Municipality of Taché, the council convened a meeting on Saturday to address the situation.
The exhibit features life-sized figures suspended from a structure resembling a gallows, with four of them bearing municipal ward numbers (two, four, five, and six) painted on them. Another figure in the center wears a crown and a dollar-sign necklace, with the word “karma” emblazoned in neon green across all five figures.
Above the figures, the phrase “politics all trick no treats” is inscribed, while another figure depicts a firefighter with a “For Sale” sign around its neck and a dollar-sign necklace.
Municipal officials revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are conducting an investigation into the exhibit and anticipate releasing further details on Monday.
The display also includes various signs with different messages. The homeowner declined an interview request from CBC, and Steinbach RCMP confirmed receiving two complaints and launching an investigation.
In a video posted on YouTube, the homeowner converses with two RCMP officers, explaining that the exhibit, intended for Halloween, is a “limited display.” He expressed frustration with municipal charges, citing an incident where a fire on his property led to a hefty bill from the municipality.
In another video, he emphasizes that the display is a theatrical statement to garner attention, denying any violent intentions and asserting the absence of weapons.
Ivan Normandeau, the reeve of La Broquerie and president of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, expressed deep concerns over the display that emerged in southern Manitoba, highlighting the distress felt by elected officials facing intimidation.
Normandeau emphasized the increasing prevalence of threats against officials in rural Manitoba, especially through social media, and stressed the need for improved safety measures.
He revealed collaboration between the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities and Association of Manitoba Municipalities to address safety concerns and minimize threats towards officials.
Normandeau expressed concerns that such threats and displays might deter individuals from seeking municipal office in Manitoba.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also voiced unease over the display, urging residents to express frustrations with politicians in a civil manner.
Kinew emphasized the importance of respectful discourse, discouraging violent imagery and promoting constructive communication.