About a week ago transit was free, due to an air quality advisory, and when I went to get groceries there were three vagrants in the lot that I would normally expect to see downtown. One was rather harmless, he just had a backpack to fill and complained of "high blood pressure and dizziness" but when the RCMP finally arrived, they took him away and left the two out in the lot who were actually intimidating customers.
One had a laceration on his head and was staggering around showing it to little old ladies in the dark, cold parking lot, while the other was 'offering' to take back grocery carts, presumably to get the loonie. I also observed this one yelling and gesturing at the harried manager when he was asked to leave the lot: apparently all you have to do to evade our local police force is step behind a snowbank for a minute. This week I see we have security patrolling the lot: I suppose my groceries will cost a little more. Thumbs up to the store for hiring security, I do appreciate not being accosted as I go out to buy groceries. Perhaps when we get the Museum of Civilization - I mean the new police station - built our police will show more enthusiasm.
Brett Blaikie
Prince George
