Antisemitic graffiti outside Johnston Heights Secondary High School in Canada. Photo: Video screenshot.

Parents and children in Canada were shocked to find swastikas spray-painted on school buildings at the start of the academic year, Canadian media reported.

In Ottawa, police have launched an investigation into a red swastika that was found spray-painted at an elementary school, news talk radio 580 CFRA reported on Tuesday.

The Nazi symbol was found on a shed at St. Theresa Catholic School. Several signs were also vandalized at the school, the report said, with the words “welcome to hell” spray-painted on them.

Staff Sgt. Dave Zackrias of the Ottawa Police Diversity and Race Relations Unit called the appearance of the swastika “disturbing,” and said despite its presence, parents should “feel comfortable leaving their kids in school knowing that [they] are going to be safe.”

In Vancouver, a large swastika accompanied by a racial slur was discovered by students at the entrance to the Johnston Heights Secondary High School, CTV News reported on Tuesday.

“I saw this disgusting language and it really hurt me. Nobody needs to say words like that. It’s just not right,” one student told CTV News.

By afternoon, someone had covered up the slur and transformed the swastika into something that looked like a flower, the report said, “but students and parents said the damage was already done.”

Canadian Mounties said they are investigating the incident. The perpetrator could be charged with a hate-crime violation.

Racist graffiti, incl swastika & racial slur found at #SurreyBC school. Cleanup is on. Details @CTVVancouver at 5&6 pic.twitter.com/cu99uLzSey

— Nafeesa Karim (@nafeesakarim) September 6, 2016