City mulls development of vandalism recovery program for businesses

GRAND PRAIRIE, Alta. – A new program geared at assisting businesses with replacing vandalized windows may be coming to the city. 

On June 10, the public and protective services committee directed administration to develop a pilot program and a budget for a vandalism recovery program.

“I’ve heard a lot from our community recently in regards to broken windows; every time you have to purchase a new window in your building, it increases your insurance costs,” said Mayor Jackie Clayton. 

A report to the committee outlined the potential for a program offering a grant or cost-sharing assistance to help businesses cover the costs incurred due to vandalism. 

“Our scan of municipalities across Alberta and Canada revealed several common features among programs; typically, they offer a 50 per cent reimbursement of eligible expenses, maximum grant amounts range from $750 up to $5,000, most programs are limited to businesses within business improvement areas (BIA) or designated zones,” Stephanie Cajolais, project director, told the committee. 

She noted that some programs include preventative measures such as security cameras and anti-graffiti coatings. 

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Program cost is unknown

Cost of the program is currently unknown, and Cajolais says that if the program were limited to something such as window replacements, it could then generate an estimate by reviewing reported incidents to the RCMP. However, if preventative measures are being requested, it would need more time to develop a criteria. 

“I know a lot of downtown businesses in the BIA, and for the most part, they’re mom-and-pop businesses running a very thin margin and just getting by, and when a window breaks like this, it could be thousands of dollars, and they don’t just have the money sitting around,” said Coun. Grant Berg. 

Coun. Gladys Blackmore said many businesses are replacing the same window multiple times.

“If it was a one-off and we didn’t have that type of vandalism happening in Grande Prairie, I probably wouldn’t support this moving forward, but because I know that there are businesses who are getting hit over and over and over again, I think that it is probably good for us to step forward and try and help out,” said Blackmore.  

Clayton said she wants the administration to work with the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce and the BIA to gather feedback on the program and identify what is needed in the community. 

“I think this is something that is really in concentrated places,” she said, “so if the report came back with a recommendation that it be a defined area, such as the BIA, that is something for council to consider, and I think it’s probably for the first iteration of this the best plan, but I’m open to having conversations.”