WELLINGTON COUNTY – All historical plaques on county properties have been moved indoors following a rash of thefts from parks and bridges in recent weeks.
County officials say bronze and commemorative plaques were relocated last week from municipal properties in the county and Guelph.
A large plaque from the county’s Mount Forest library branch was noticed missing after CAO Scott Wilson gave the relocation order.
At least 74 plaques were removed from county properties, buildings and bridges, according to the county.
There are 11 plaques missing from county bridges, garages and roadways, which the county assumes are stolen.
The cost of a plaques would have originally ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
The removals come amid the discovery of at least 20 plaque thefts since May.
Wellington OPP did not have any updates to provide about an ongoing investigation into the thefts as of Sept. 16.
Wilson said there’s no date for when plaques will be reinstalled indoors, or when missing plaques will be replaced.
“Our history is very important to us, and the plaques have been a good way to educate people about the structures and the councils that have put them there,” Wilson said.
