Municipal authorities in Rimouski, Quebec, report that rising vandalism against city infrastructure and trees is costing the city between $50,000 and $75,000 per year [1], [2].

These expenses divert public funds from other municipal services and signal a growing trend of property damage within the community. The financial burden falls on taxpayers to cover the recurring costs of cleaning, and restoration.

City officials said that the damage is not limited to public buildings. The destruction of trees and other urban greenery has become a specific point of concern for the Ville de Rimouski [1], [2].

Other local institutions have also reported targeted attacks. In June 2026, reports surfaced regarding a local school that had been the target of vandalism for five weeks [3].

"Une école de Rimouski dénonce des actes de vandalisme survenus au cours des dernières fins de semaine," TVA Nouvelles said [3].

The city has not yet released a comprehensive strategy to curb the increase in these incidents. However, the continued financial loss remains a primary driver for municipal concern as the costs for cleanup continue to accumulate [1].

“vandalism... is costing the city between $50,000 and $75,000 per year”

The rise in vandalism in Rimouski reflects a broader challenge for small to mid-sized municipalities in Quebec, where the cost of maintaining public aesthetics and infrastructure is increasingly strained by antisocial behavior. When combined with targeted attacks on educational institutions, the trend suggests a systemic issue with youth or community engagement that exceeds simple property damage.