Business improvement group calls for aid while more Vancouver stores deal with broken windows
At a time when more shops are dealing with broken windows in Vancouver, a group representing business improvement associations across B.C. is calling on the province to do more to help.
Business Improvement Areas of B.C. (BIABC) wants to see a financial assistance program developed for merchants dealing with the costly aftermath of broken glass, vandalism and crime.
It’s a reality stores in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood are facing right now. At The Ice Cream Parlour optical store at Denman Place Mall, all four of the shop’s large glass windows have been broken, with the majority behind wooden boards.
Owner Jake Jackman said this isn’t the first time this has happened.
“When I took the business over in January, these were actually boarded up … and prior to that it had happened twice before as well,” he said. “Just frustrating, really. It’s a pain.”
His business isn’t only one dealing with recent damage. Just down the street, the window at Kick Vapes and Smoke Shop was also broken on Saturday.
Owner Vikas Ohri says the same window had just been repaired about two weeks ago, and other windows have also been broken before.
“This is the fifth time in the store since March,” he said. “It takes two weeks to get a new window and they break it in two weeks. Half a month without a window.”
Ohri is now planning to replace one window with metal sheets instead of glass. He said he also contacted the city about installing rolling shutters over top, and was told he would have to submit an application to do so.
“One of the reasons, somebody told me, was that they don’t like shutters on the window because it looks ugly,” he said. “But what about us, who are paying so much money, and going through all this? I don’t understand.”
Jackman said he’s also explored the idea of rolling shutters.
“There’s always permits that have to be applied, or approvals through the city,” he said. “There’s always red tape for all the solutions that you come up with.”
Teri Smith with the West End Business Improvement Association said they are now offering a $500 grant to help business enhance security measures or repair damage.
“It’s been a very frustrating time for our businesses, who are just trying to recover and get back on their feet from a couple years of very challenging times with the pandemic,” she said. “We had originally allocated funds for a patio grant program which we did supply with a number of businesses…for patios on the curb-side. But with the amount of vandalism that’s been on the rise, we felt that we needed to reallocate that and support our businesses.”
Smith is also the president of the BIABC, and compared the group’s proposed provincial financial assistance program for commercial victims of crime to other relief offered during the pandemic.
“We need to start realizing our communities are in crisis, not only our businesses but their employees, the customers that they serve, also the people that are vulnerable in our communities are all suffering and it’s time that we actually start putting actionable strategies in place,” she said. “I know there have been efforts made in the past, but they are not working.”
In an email to CTV News, the public safety ministry said the government shares people’s frustration with ongoing criminal activity and is working to implement recommendations from a recently released report on repeat offending.
“We are determined to address this serious issue that’s hurting communities across the province,” the ministry said. “We have already identified three specific recommendations that we’re starting on right away, including bringing back the successful Repeat Offender Management program…we are working with our partners to identity other ways we can implement further changes to keep our communities safe.”
However, the ministry did not directly address the idea of an assistance program for businesses.
In an email, the Vancouver Police Department said officers responded to a glass break alarm at the vape shop just before 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, and arrested a suspect in the area that morning.
“Charges related to the mischief, as well as charges for breaching current court conditions, have been recommended,” the VPD said. “He also went to jail for an outstanding warrant. The investigation into other glass breaks in the West End are still under investigation.”
At Jackman’s shop, the wait is now on to see the damage fixed. He said there’s no idea how long it will take.
“With the tempered glass, it takes quite a bit longer. Last time I dealt with this, it was about a seven week turnaround time,” he said. “It’s really disheartening. These are people who are trying to make an honest living, and you know, unfortunately we have to deal with this all the time.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.