Dustin Cook
Mom and pop shops using trial ban to cut down on aggressive behaviour
It’s now all for one, and one for all among Alberta Avenue businesses.
A new program to crack down on aggressive behaviour will see anyone shoplifting or abusing shop owners and customers banned, not just from that store, but from 164 of the 190 shops on central Edmonton’s unique shopping and retail street.
Police have already banned 12 people for a period of 90 days in the first month of the six-month Businesses Together initiative. Only local police beat teams have authority to issue the sweeping ban, said Alberta Avenue Business Association executive director Joachim Holtz.
If violated, the offenders can be charged with trespassing and handed another 90-day ban.
Businesses have also committed to a zero-tolerance policy for soliciting, and committed to provide washroom access only for paying customers. That’s necessary to provide a safe and attractive street for all Edmontonians to shop and dine, said Holtz.
“People don’t just get banned for the sake of banning,” said Holtz. “That’s not what we want. But at the same time, we are open for business. We want people to come to Alberta Avenue and we want them to shop and dine on Alberta Avenue. It’s safe ... contrary to what some people say out there.”
The effort comes after more than a decade of using arts, festivals and community connections to rebuild confidence in the shopping area and surrounding neighbourhoods. That’s already brought new investment and filled in many of the formerly-boarded up shop windows. The business district runs along 118 Avenue from 79 Street to 105 Street.
Restrictions promote respect of the stores and their employees, said Christy Morin, executive director of Arts on the Ave, which also runs The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse.
“It’s a little bit of a reminder that we don’t tolerate wrongful behaviour,” she said. “It’s the respect piece that I think is needed and may be lost in the past with people thinking they deserve to walk into a private business and do what they want.”
All of the businesses have a list of community resources if residents come in looking for assistance or a washroom to use, Morin said. They aren’t leaving people without support.
EPS spokeswoman Landis Reichle said another role of the officers is to aid in crime prevention education, which is presented to business owners quarterly at events like Coffee with a Cop.
“The intent is to create a malllike environment where people share information and conduct business in line with an agreed set of rules,” Reichle said in an email.
Additional requirements for participating businesses include prohibiting the sale of weapons and illegal drug paraphernalia. Only four per cent of the shops opted out of the program.
Holtz said he was “blown away” by the response and it’s a clear sign that businesses are united. Following the six-month trial, Holtz said the results will be assessed with the hopes of continuing.