Subhir Uppal, a candidate running for Kitchissippi ward councillor, says his campaign signs have been defaced with swastikas.
“The saddest part of this campaign isn’t the possibility of losing,” Uppal shared in an Oct. 6 video posted to social media. “It’s the hatred my family has experienced along the way.”
The Ottawa Police Service confirmed it had received a report on Oct. 5 of “a hate symbol drawn on an election sign, and another kicked over in the area of Churchill Avenue North and Scott Street.”
The defaced signs were removed and confiscated by police, according to an email from Uppal’s campaign team.
“I can confront overt prejudice and the quieter, more subtle forms of discrimination. I can choose not to let it define or deter me,” Uppal said in the video. “But it’s much harder to see the tears in my parents’ eyes as they watch their son and his family subjected to hatred for putting our names forward to serve our community.
“And nothing can prepare you for your child witnessing it. It’s gut-wrenching when my son sees the hatred firsthand or overhears the conversations when police contacted us because our campaign signs had been defaced with swastikas.”
Mayor Mark Stutcliffe posted on social media that he’d been in touch with Uppal’s family after hearing of the vandalism.
“I’m very disturbed to learn of racist graffiti on Subhir Uppal’s campaign signs,” Sutcliffe shared on Bluesky . “I’ve let Subhir know I’m thinking of him and his family. No one in our city, including those offering to serve the community, should have to experience this kind of targeted abuse. It has no place in Ottawa.”
Threats, harassment, hate-motivated crimes and election-sign damage are criminal offences, Ottawa police said.
Candidates and residents are encouraged to report any such incidents to police by calling 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.
“Public service should be about ideas, values, and how we can make our community better,” Uppal said. “We can disagree passionately about politics without attacking someone’s identity, family or humanity.”
Uppal is one of four candidates running for councillor in Kitchissippi ward. He is the founder of a real estate technology startup and teaches ethics through the Real Estate Institute of Canada.
Kitchissippi is one of two Ottawa wards without an incumbent in the race after longtime councillor Jeff Leiper announced his bid for mayor. Uppal faces challengers Joanne Chianello, Brian Innes and Xavier Commerford in the Oct. 26 municipal election.
