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MONTREAL – Chantal Larivière couldn’t believe it when she won a 2009 competition to paint a mural to honour Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.

But her happiness turned to disappointment last Thursday when her boyfriend noticed that someone had drawn all over her artwork.

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“I was very disappointed when I saw what they had done to my mural,” Larivière told Global News.

“I had posted it on Facebook. The comments and support from a lot of people is touching.”

Larivière said the mural, located on Ontario Est and Nicolet streets near the Olympic Stadium, was a huge source of pride.

Graffiti covers Chantal Larivière’s artwork on Ontario Street Est in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Monday, February 15, 2016. Chantal Larivière

The “Pignons à vue” contest was commissioned by organization Y’A Quelqu’Un L’Autre Bord Du Mur (YQQ) to celebrate the borough’s 125th anniversary.

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It’s part of a greater artistic project to revitalise the area, which is often known to have a bad reputation.

“I have nothing against other artists who express themselves through graffiti, but why ruin someone else’s art?” she asked.

“[It’s] really disappointing.”

Chantal Larivière’s artwork to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Chantal Larivière

Though Larivière admits she may not be well-versed in the world of street art, there needs to be some form of mutual respect for other artists.

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“I was just so upset,” she said.

“[I hope] these graffiti artists realize that if they want to be recognized as artists they have to stop this kind of vandalism. It’s just not right.”

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca

Follow @rachel_lau