The City of Steinbach says several plaques commemorating local history have been stolen from parks and other public spaces across the city and is asking residents for help tracking them down. City employees noticed the six bronze plaques were missing while carrying out routine maintenance work this summer, according to a news release from the city. They honoured the city’s history, past leaders, important milestones, and commemorated significant sites. The plaques went missing from E.A. Friesen Park, K.R. Barkman Park, Helena Loewen Garden, Rieger Pocket Park, and near the flagpole outside City Hall. “These thefts are in incredibly bad taste and are bothersome, as it seems as though there is a lack of respect for the recognition of that shared history,” Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk said in the news release. One plaque, near to Steinbach’s City Hall, commemorated Henry and Anna Reimer, described as “pioneer merchants” whose home and department store stood in the area from 1885 to 1965. Another plaque honoured Sebastian and Eva Rieger, who emigrated from Austria-Hungary in the early 1900s and later opened a tailor shop and men’s wear store in the area. The city says it is committed to replacing the plaques “to ensure that these relics of our shared history can continue to be appreciated by residents and Steinbach visitors for years to come” but added that the cultural value of the plaques is “truly irreplaceable.” A city spokesperson told CTV News that replacing the bronze plaques will cost an estimated $25,000 in total. “At this time, and together with our community, the city remains hopeful that these distinctive historical artifacts can be returned intact to their rightful places,” the release says. The city is urging anyone who may have seen suspicious activity near a commemorative plaque or who has information about the whereabouts of the missing plaques to contact the City of Steinbach at 204-326-9877 or the Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-4452.
