One of the most recent cases of vandalism in downtown Prince George

By Sam Bennison

Crime

Vandalism is out of control in downtown PG according to local businesses

Jan 15, 2025 | 3:34 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— What is the Breaking point for businesses in downtown Prince George? That is the question some of them have after another bout of crime since Christmas, including smashed store fronts and arson attempts.

“The time for sitting around and talking about it… We’re running out,” says Downtown business advocate John Zukowski. “We gotta start doing something because businesses can’t afford to be paying $3,000 for windows every few weeks.”

Storybook Wedding was the most recent business to get hit. According to Mayor Simon Yu the planters that the City constructed beautify the area are being used as projectiles. He adds that they are looking to remove the planters.

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“The Overall downtown crime rate, over the last couple of years, it is going down,” adds Mayor Yu. “But that does not mean in the isolated cases such as Mary’s [owner of Storybook Wedding], that the crime rate as well as the incidence increases.

However, businesses say the issues are not isolated to her place and vandalism permeates all across the downtown core.

“It’s not just Storybook Wedding. It’s the flower shop around the corner on Quebec. It’s Fourth Avenue, it’s Dominion, it’s right down Third Avenue,” counter Zukowski.”The big thing lately has been the window breakage. Between Christmas and New Year’s, we’ve had six window breaks in this immediate area. And, it’s happening overnight when there is a minimal amount of patrols in the downtown area.”

Mayor Yu says that they have increased patrols in the downtown but is hopeful the Province will help by funding an involuntary treatment centre.

“What we really need in this town is we need to find a way to triage the mentally ill from the hardcore criminal activities and from the drug addiction,” says Mayor Yu. “What we need is a treatment plan and I welcome the premier’s involuntary treatment program.”

On the other hand, time is of the essence as more businesses seek to vacate Prince George’s downtown core.

“We’re taxed out. We are ripped off. We’re done,” says Zukowski. “We have businesses here are looking at moving out of the downtown core.”

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com