By Tiffany Goodwein

Drugs, violence and panhandling: Seniors launch petition demanding change in downtown core

Aug 30, 2019 | 12:16 PM

A signed petition with 120 signatures has been delivered to Vernon city council from seniors and management living and working in the downtown core.

The petition was sparked by residents living inside the McCulloch Court building at 3400 Coldstream Avenue stating that they have witnessed everything from drug deals, to shooting up, to alleged assaults.

“We are threatened by people outside. There are panhandlers, the drug activity is more in the back there, but you still got these people going around the front,” one senior living inside the McCulloch court building said.

Management at the Orchard Valley Retirement residence also confirmed to Vernon Matters that some of their residents also signed the petition out of concerns over the behavior witnessed from the street entrenched population.

In a post on Facebook, Lesley Waughman, manager of the Vernon Pensioners Accommodation Society said something must be done to ensure the safety of seniors living in the area.

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“No one should have to live in fear and our seniors should be respected and looked after. Since the petition was sent to our mayor and council members last Friday we have since had one of our seniors attacked right in front of our building,” she wrote.

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are currently investigating the incident.

” The alleged incident is linked to another file that was reported by the same person, a few days prior, and police are actively working to clarify the details on both. At this time it is believed that the incidents are related and targeted,” Const. Kelly Brett said in an emailed statement.

Since the alleged assault took place Wednesday morning, a resident told Vernon Matters, seniors in the complex are having to take unusual measures to protect themselves.

“We’ve got a couple of ladies wearing whistles around their necks, since this thing yesterday. You know just in case somebody attacks them they are going to blow these little whistles, like they seem to have to protect themselves more,” she said.

Coun. Scott Anderson and Coun. Kari Gares met with the concerned seniors on Wednesday to hear their concerns.

“They had originally sent the petition because of the activity generally downtown. When we arrived, there had just been a mugging apparently, an elderly gentleman had been beaten up and his keys taken and his money taken, and then they ransacked his room,” Anderson said.

“I mean these folks are concerned, some of them expressed fear of even walking the halls in their own place now, and you know that’s an awful way to be,” he said.

Shortly after the two city councillors with the seniors, Mayor Victor Cumming sent a letter to the residents notifying them the issue would be brought up at the next council meeting scheduled for Sept. 3.

This isn’t the first-time safety and seniors has been brought to light in recent weeks.

On August 14, police were called to the Vernon Restholm retirement residence after reports of a man brandishing a knife and kicking doors.

It’s an incident that a resident at the McCulloch Court building fears could happen in their building if something is not done to address the crime.

An 84-year-old senior was also punched in the face and robbed after walking in an alley in the 2800 block of 35 street on July 27.

The suspect was arrested two days later by Vernon’s top cop.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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