The portable blue Okotoks sign was recently damaged and defaced.

The large blue letters first appeared earlier this year, first showing up at the landmark site on Elizabeth Street, but were moved to 32 St. near the BMX track in the spring.

They're part of the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce's More Okotoks campaign, purchased with a federal shop local grant through the Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

Last week, four of the letters were found knocked over, with their bases damaged.

Executive director Dawn LeMaistre says it would've taken considerable force to do it since they're secured into the ground

"Obviously when they went to push them back toward the BMX track, the earth moved with it until it eventually came out and it actually ripped the rebar component right off the base, so we're having to do some repair to the base of the latter and we'll have to adjust the placement because they won't be able to go back where they were."

A couple of the letters were also marked with what looks like permanent marker, something that's happened before.

Given that the letters were bought with grant money, removal of the graffiti and repair of the letters won't have that same funding.

"The intention is to create some awareness in our community, make it fun and vibrant and support our local business. In the process, people are vandalizing them and costing the chamber out-of-pocket funds to repair them. The intent isn't to have something pretty to look at, there is a purpose for why they're there, and it's very disheartening to know that people don't value or appreciate the reason the letters are there," says LeMaistre.

They're hoping for information on whoever was responsible for the vandalism.

LeMaistre says they're supposed to be enjoyed by locals, but not like that.

"Enjoy them, that's what they're there for. There are times I've gone down on BMX night and there are half a dozen kids scattered around the letters which is great, that's what they're there for, but don't be disrespectful with them, don't wreck them. They're not cheap to repair. The less we need to repair them, the more opportunity we have to do fun stuff in our community."