Severed pig’s head leads to investigation of possible hate crime

Todayville Edmonton

Published

3 years ago

2 minute read

Parkland County, Alta. (from Parkland RCMP)

On Oct. 16, 2022, at approximately 10 a.m., Parkland RCMP received a report of a severed pig’s head that had been left on the rainbow Pride crosswalk painted at Graminia School in Parkland County.

The pig is believed to be a domesticated pig. Its head was severed with a bladed instrument. Its placement in the center of the crosswalk appears to have been intentional and designed to disturb students, staff and parents. Due to these circumstances, investigators are treating this incident as a possible hate crime targeted at the school, which has a Gay-Straight Alliance.

“An unsophisticated person might think this was a prank. An objective viewer would see it as highly intolerant and provocative,” says Staff Sergeant Ian Gillan of Parkland RCMP.

Parkland RCMP are seeking any information that may assist the investigation. In particular, police are seeking the following information:

Any suspicious activity in the area between the evening of Oct. 15, 2022, to the late morning of Oct. 16, 2022
Information pertaining to recently missing or mutilated pigs
Butchers and meat packers who recently sold, or had a pig’s head stolen, are also asked to contact Parkland RCMP

The RCMP encourages all victims and witnesses to report any hate-motivated crime or incident to their local police of jurisdiction. Reporting hate-motivated incidents, no matter how minor they may seem, can help Police better target crime prevention efforts in the communities. It can also help identify trends and prevent a possible escalation towards violence.

If you can provide information regarding this incident, please contact the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-2000. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Up Next

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is leading the fight against our own federal government to save Canada

Don't Miss

Red Deer Polytechnic homecoming featuring athletic, social, and academic events

Todayville Edmonton

www.todayville.com/edmonton/

Todayville is an independently-owned digital media company. We specialize in helping community groups, local businesses and organizations tell their story. Our team has years of media and video production experience. Talk to us about advertising, brand journalism stories, opinion pieces, event promotion, or other ideas you have to make our product better. We also own and operate Todayville Red Deer and Todayville Calgary.

Follow Author

New Documentary “Cooking with Hot Stones” Explores History of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta

Alberta / 2 years ago

Alberta’s environmental leaders recognized

Community / 2 years ago

Family Day fun in City Hall & Churchill Square

Alberta

Alberta Provincial Police – New chief of Independent Agency Police Service

Published on July 2, 2025

Government of Alberta

Sat Parhar has been appointed as the first chief of the Independent Agency Police Service, marking the next step toward a new municipal policing option.

The appointment of a new chief for the Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS) marks the next step in giving municipalities a new option for local policing and builds on the work already underway for the agency to assume the police-like duties currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs. The IAPS will empower municipalities to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing public safety across the province.

Chief Parhar brings more than 25 years of policing experience, including senior roles with the Calgary Police Service, most recently as deputy chief. His frontline policing experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s complex and diverse public safety landscape positions him to lead the agency as it takes shape and begins its work as a new municipal policing option, keeping communities safe.

Once operational, the agency will strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which includes the RCMP, Indigenous policing services and municipal police. It will help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently to meet Alberta’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities.

“Appointing Chief Sat Parhar is a key milestone in Alberta’s plan to give municipalities a real choice in how their communities are kept safe. This is about building a modern police service that reflects the priorities of Albertans, strengthens local decision-making, and ensures every corner of our province, especially rural areas, can count on responsive, effective law enforcement. With his decades of experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s policing landscape, he is the right leader to bring this vision to life.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“This appointment signifies a significant step forward in our efforts to establish a more robust, community-focused policing model that is better equipped to meet the unique needs of our local residents. Under Chief Parhar’s visionary leadership, we are confident that we will develop a modern, efficient police service that not only enhances public safety but also aligns closely with the priorities and values of Albertans. His experience and commitment are vital in shaping an IAPS that is responsive, transparent, and dedicated to fostering trust and collaboration within the community, ultimately ensuring a safer and more connected society for all.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency ServicesMike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Chief Parhar’s immediate priorities will be to hire an executive team and commence organizational planning such as developing key recruitment, training and other operational policies. Chief Parhar’s appointment is the first step of many to establishing the IAPS.

“It’s an honour to take on this role and help shape a modern police service built for Alberta. My focus from day one will be on setting high standards for professionalism, building strong relationships with our partners and ensuring this service reflects the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.”

Sat Parhar, chief, Independent Agency Police Service

The Independent Agency Police Service was formally created through regulation following the passing of Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. The agency will operate as an independent Crown corporation, and will be renamed the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, with its head office located in Calgary. The IAPS will be operationally independent from the provincial government with civilian oversight, consistent with all police services in Alberta.

“When it comes to policing, municipalities like ours deserve a choice – especially when the current system leaves us disadvantaged simply because of our size. We look forward to learning more about what that alternative will look like once an Alberta police agency is fully established and the options are clear. For us, this is about fairness, sustainability, and ensuring municipalities have access to policing solutions that reflect both their needs and their realities.”

Jack Van Rijn, Mayor of the Town of Coaldale

Quick facts

The regulation establishes the IAPS Provincial Corporation and its governance structure including board of directors, board of director powers, financial responsibilities and accountabilities.