Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 05/02) - To the thieves who stole the seniors' water tank that sat beside the stone Lakeview Cemetery sign -- give it back.

A stainless steel tank used to water flowers in the garden around the Lakeview sign was stolen sometime last week, and now the seniors who care for the plants have to lug their own water.

"Would the person who took it return it please," said Barbara Bromley, 76, a regular volunteer caretaker of the garden planted in 1999 during Year of the Elder.

"It's a lot harder to water (the garden)," said Bromley.

Bromley said the tank was given to the Yellowknife Seniors Society by her son to take care of the plants around the sign and three other planters in the cemetery itself, one kilometre down the road.

The two-metre high tank sat on a wooden platform and was re-filled regularly by the Bromley family's water delivery business.

The city planted the garden at the society's request.

Bromley said the seniors now have to find someone strong enough to lug the many litres of water needed for watering the garden.

"I can't carry those big buckets," said Bromley.

Last Saturday Bromley and three of her friends used ice cream and popcorn oil buckets to carry out their watering duties.

The garden was planted so people visiting friends and relatives buried in the cemetery would have something nice to see, said Bromley.

She goes to the cemetery to visit deceased friends and relatives of friends.

Bromley said the society did not contact police and are hoping the thieves will feel their conscience twinge and return the tank.

"But if there is anyone out there who could donate a tank it would be nice."