Happy Valley-Goose Bay residents make their voices heard at town meeting about public safety

Concerns about public safety were loud and clear at a recent Happy Valley-Goose Bay town meeting, as residents weigh in on a report released by a provincial working group in October. 

The Policing Transformation Working Group was asked to do a review of public safety in the area after residents and municipal leaders expressed concerns over crime and safety in the community. 

Minister of Justice and Public Safety Bernard Davis said he will adopt all of the report's recommendations, including the hiring of five more RCMP officers for the town. 

The working group conducted extensive consultations, but Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews said the town wanted to give residents their say in a public meeting. 

He said council heard some powerful testimonies, but the report had created some confusion about safety in the town. 

"It disturbs me to no end to hear people vilify homelessness"​- Edward Blake-Rudkowski 

Heightened emotions

About sixty people attended a moderated meeting at a college gymnasium in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Tuesday night. 
 
Some wanted to know who the policing work group spoke with and questioned some of the report's findings.   

"Municipal leaders have a pivotal role in providing leadership such as communicating accurate information to citizens," the report reads. 

"There has been a growing perception among some community members that the situation may be more severe than it actually is, fuelled in part by heightened emotions and the spread of misinformation."

That struck a cord with Sand Bar Lounge owner Falon Wilson, whose establishment burned down in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in August.  A man from Natuashish was later charged with arson. 

At the meeting, Wilson said residents are living in fear.

"Whether it's break-ins, vandalism, theft or violent crime, many of us are being targeted over and over again. I know I have been," she said. "These are not isolated incidents. This is a pattern and it's happening right here in our community, in our literal backyards."

Other business owners echoed that they, too, have been impacted by repeated crime. 

This summer, Innu First Nation members felt on edge. 

Verbal attacks and racist comments were hurled at Innu after a rally about crime was held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. 

Wilson maintains she doesn't want to target any group or the transient population.

But, she says, the town needs help. 

"I agree with efforts to address the root causes of crime like addiction, mental health and homelessness. These are serious issues, and we support efforts for rehabilitation and detox programs," she said. "But, the truth is we don't trust that these programs are going to work, at least not within the framework of our already overstretched and understaffed health-care system."

Wilson said the legal system has failed to stop repeat offenders from continuing to harm the community. 

She also said a balanced approach is needed, a way to address social issues while also ensuring community safety.  

Stop Vilifying Homeless 

Happy Valley-Goose Bay resident Edward Blake-Rudkowksi said people who experience homelessness have been vilified. 

But, he said, the problem of drug trafficking isn't being talked about enough. 

On Tuesday, the RCMP layed charges against 17 people in Labrador for drug trafficking. A police drug seizure included a synthetic opioid that is 25 times stronger than fentanyl. 

Blake-Rudkowksi said these dangerous drugs are being trafficked to people in Labrador, including those who are struggling with addictions and was outraged the significant bust wasn't talked about more at the town meeting. 

Whether it's break-ins, vandalism, theft or violent crime, many of us are being targeted over and over again.- Falon Wilson

"These are severe and serious drugs, yet we're not focusing on those issues. We're focusing on the homeless population," he said. 

He said he didn't want to hear homeless being vilified when they had no ability to defend themselves at the meeting. 

"It disturbs me to no end to hear people vilify homelessness, yet turn a blind eye to the fact that we have people … who live in nice houses [and] are peddling dope," he said.

"People who have no voice, have no house, have no security and are freezing to death in the woods of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, that's a problem. That's a real problem. That's a safety issue."

Every walk of life 

Germaine McLean shared how her family has been touched by homelessness, abuse and addiction.

"There are victims in every walk of life and they all have a history," she said. 

A Mokami Status of Women Council social worker said vulnerable people who are homeless and suffering with mental health and addictions are also victims of crime. 

Meanwhile, Wilson said, she's been pushing for more drug busts.

"I'm so emotional about this. I guess the heightened emotions that were in the police report, that's me, I guess," she said. "I've lost a business. So I'm just really upset with everything. And I wish it was a perfect world and we could have an answer, a peaceful answer to everything for everybody."

Andrews says he welcomes additional RCMP officers in his community. 

"It's important for everybody in our community to feel safe. And I want to say [to] everybody, it doesn't matter who it is or where they're in town or what their personal situation is, everybody deserves to be safe," he said.  

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.