The red bench that was taken from Gayle McDonald’s home has been located and returned. McDonald has chained it up, along with another bench that was donated to her after last week’s theft. Photo Credit: Gayle McDonald.
A community reading bench that was stolen from the Oaklands neighbourhood has been recovered nearby.
Staff at the Oaklands Community Centre said Friday the bench somehow ended up in their courtyard.
Gayle McDonald said it was on Aug. 21 she noticed that her bench had been taken. She had been on vacation from Aug. 6 to Aug. 20.
The garden bench is red and is usually situated in McDonald’s front boulevard on the corner of Belmont Avenue and Ryan Street. McDonald purchased the bench last year, fixed it and painted it to match her grotto.
“Being on a busy walking corner of Oaklands made it the perfect spot for people to stop and rest, and maybe even pick up a book or two,” McDonald said. She also created a little library, which she put beside the bench.
McDonald said the bench was heavy and would probably take two people to lift it into a vehicle.
The red bench has now been returned to her home by Oaklands Community Centre staff. McDonald has chained it up along with another bench that was donated to her shortly after last week’s theft.
Alexa Huffman
