08/18/2026
When a Broken Window Becomes a Bigger Problem…
This photo is from our building.
It’s more than a broken window. It’s a reminder of something that is becoming increasingly difficult for small businesses and property owners in our community.
We are a small town. We care about our neighbours. We care about people who are struggling, including those experiencing homelessness. No one should be without a safe place to sleep, access to support, or a path toward a better life.
But compassion cannot mean looking the other way when businesses are vandalized, property is damaged, or people are left feeling unsafe.
The system is failing, and it is failing everyone. It is failing the people experiencing homelessness who need meaningful support, housing, mental health and addiction services, and dignity. And it is failing the small business owners who are left to absorb the cost and consequences when the problem spills into our businesses and our community.
We shouldn’t have to choose between compassion and safety.
We can care about vulnerable people and expect accountability. We can demand better services and protect the businesses and communities that are trying to survive. We can believe that people deserve help while also acknowledging that repeated vandalism and property damage are not acceptable.
Behind every broken window is a real cost. A repair bill. Lost time. Stress. Fear. And the feeling that the people trying to run honest, hardworking businesses are being forgotten.
This is not about blaming people who are struggling.
It’s about asking our leaders to do better.
Our small towns deserve better. Our businesses deserve better. And, perhaps most importantly, the people living on the streets deserve better than a system that leaves them there.
We need solutions, not silence.
