‘At their wits’ end’: downtown Kenora safety issues spark civic outcry

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This article was published 30/12/2022 (1246 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Concerns over crime, safety and substance abuse in downtown Kenora, Ont., have come to a head, with civic officials forced to hold an emergency council meeting.

The last-minute gathering Thursday came after a business owner on 2nd Street in the small city’s downtown was assaulted in her clothing shop Dec. 23, allegedly by a man who appeared intoxicated.

The suspect damaged goods in the chaotic melee, as the woman defended herself with a clothing rack.

Michelle Livingston, owner of Island Girl, livestreamed the aftermath of the attack on social media, before Ontario Provincial Police officers arrested a 29-year-old man, who was charged with assault and mischief under $5,000.

“It’s at its worst,” she said Friday of addictions and increasing homelessness in Kenora. Livingston is now locking the shop’s door, requiring customers ring a bell to enter.

On Dec. 10, an employee was assaulted at a Main Street business, allegedly by an intoxicated person. OPP arrested a 23-year-old woman, who was charged with assault, assault of a peace officer and mischief under $5000.

“People are very frustrated, the level of violence, you know our businesses are at their wits’ end,” Kenora & District Chamber of Commerce president Andy Scribilo said Friday.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things, homelessness, trauma in peoples’ lives, and why people are rebelling — don’t know — we don’t have the solution yet. But we definitely have to do something.”

Business owners at the Thursday meeting in the Ontario city where Manitobans often vacation spoke of thefts, vandalism, break-ins and harassment. Social services agencies and groups that work with homeless people also made presentations, before city council held a closed-door session for several hours.

Mayor Andrew Poirier said Friday the issues the downtown is seeing are largely tied to increasing homelessness, compounded with mental health issues and addictions — particularly, to methamphetamine and opiates.

The council has committed to hiring a community safety and well-being co-ordinator, who will be tasked with implementing a redeveloped community safety and well-being plan in conjunction with an advisory group of police, the business community, social services agencies and First Nations organizations.

Advocacy group fears vigilantim

The chairwoman of Kenora Moving Forward, a coalition meant to address homelessness and its underlying issues, urged civic officials to declare a housing and mental health emergency.

“In the midst of what’s been happening… one of our biggest concerns has been the safety of people in the street community,” Mary Alice Smith told the Thursday meeting, noting more than 75 per cent of homeless people in the city are Anishinaabe or Métis.

Smith said she’s seen social media posts of people threatening vigilantism and the coalition thinks racism is a key part of local concerns.

The OPP detachment has committed to increasing downtown foot and vehicle patrols in the city of about 15,000.

Const. Jason Canfield, media relations officer for the Kenora OPP detachment, said Friday police are not seeing a statistical spike in violent crime, though the latest statistics were not immediately available. Year-to-date numbers from August showed overall reported violent crimes down to 315 this year from 343 in 2021.

“It just sort of happened to be a few things all at once that came to light — and people have been tired, people feeling unsafe going to their vehicles after work, or having people come in that are high or intoxicated,” Canfield said Friday.

”A couple events just… sparked everyone to be angry over the situation.”

He noted OPP are working on soon opening an office on the city’s downtown Main Street.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera