Cleanup in aisle everywhere
North Sydney Walmart still closed after smoke canister causes damage ‘in the millions’
For shoppers of the Walmart location in North Sydney, it’s been a frustrating couple of weeks.
The store has been closed on the Northside since Nov. 6, after somebody let off a smoke signal canister inside the building, reportedly between freezer units in the retail grocery section of the store.
Bob Jardine of North Sydney is a Walmart customer, visiting the store when he needs things immediately. “It’s frustration because it’s getting close to Christmas,” said Jardine. “For the people who depend on that particular store on a regular basis, it’s convenient for them and it’s close to home, and they don’t have that right now.”
Cape Breton Regional Police, along with the North Sydney Volunteer Fire Department and the Cape Breton Fire Services hazmat team, responded to the King Street location around 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 to reports of orange smoke inside the building.
Upon arrival, customers and employees had been evacuated from Walmart as well as parts of the North Sydney Mall.
Firefighters entered the store and located a smoke signal canister. The hazmat team confirmed the smoke to be nontoxic.
“My first thought was why would somebody do that — I don’t know why somebody would do it,” Clare Bishop Bishop said, recalling when she heard the news. “I was devastated for the employees that work there.”
Alex Roberton, senior director of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada, confirmed most of the inventory was unsalvageable, with total damage “in the millions.”
“We’re going through the process of cleaning the store and we’re moving all the current inventory and replacing it with new inventory,” said Roberton.
Bishop, who visits the location to purchase dry food groceries as well as the odd gift, said the store being closed is an inconvenience to all shoppers.
“If you were a regular shopper there, you would have to go to Sydney River or Sydney,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have a vehicle and they can’t drive to Sydney.”
Roberton confirmed employees are still being paid while the store is closed, with some even working at other Walmart stores in Sydney.
“We go by there a lot and people shop there,” said Jardine. “They depend on that particular store to be there to give them the materials that they want — it will be good when it’s reopened.
“I hope the people who did this are apprehended and that
they’re taught a lesson, if they’re minors, we’re not going to hear about it, but certainly if they’re out of the minor area and protection then they shouldn’t just get a slap on the wrist.”
A similar incident happened at Memorial High School in Sydney Mines on Nov. 9, after somebody set off a smoke signal canister under a stairway inside the building, sending
orange smoke through the hallways, causing an evacuation and the cancellation of classes.
The school suffered only minor damage with only ceiling tiles needing replacement. Classes resumed the following day.
Cape Breton Regional Police continue to investigate both incidents.
Meanwhile, Belfor Property Restoration of Coxheath is conducting the clean up at the Walmart store. Crews were on scene at the location, Saturday morning.
“There’s special protective equipment that’s needed, gloves and masks, to keep workers safe,” said Roberton. “Everything is going well so far.”
Walmart Canada anticipates the store will reopen on Friday.
“We appreciate the customers’s patience,” said Roberton. “We’re working as fast as we can to get the store open, hopefully by Friday.”
Anyone with information about the incident at Walmart is asked to contact regional police at 902-563-5151 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 902-562-8477.