A "pointless act of destruction" last week has a business owner and former city councillor calling for more amenities for youth in Parksville.
The courtyard of Pacific Brimm coffee shop was vandalized Wednesday between 8:40 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. by what police have described as "young men." Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman told The NEWS there is video footage of the crime.
"They were throwing plants around and smashing stuff up," said Foreman, who also said a forensic identification team worked the site Thursday. The culprits did not go inside the building of the business, said Foreman. "Hopefully it's just a matter of time before we catch up with these two young men."
Pacific Brimm owner and former city councillor (2005-2011) Teresa Patterson took to the Brimm's Facebook page and her own Facebook page to express her thoughts about the crime and she also spoke with The NEWS.
"I'm sharing one of the worst days of my life not for sympathy, but because at the end of this day I'm disappointed," Patterson said. "I'm still upset, but it's the lack of amenities for youth, that result in pointless acts of destruction. I still will blame their parents and a community. Because I truly believe in that saying that it takes a community to raise a child."
Patterson couldn't put a firm dollar figure on the damage but said it was "in the thousands." She also said there was some damage to totem poles that were pulled down, art created by Bill Helin, renowned First Nations artist from B.C. whose accomplishments include designing the patch worn by astronauts on the U.S. space shuttle Columbia in 1996. She also said this is the fourth instance of vandalism at the store since she bought the business in August of last year.
" . . . I love this little city," Patterson said and wrote. "But we are failing this community's youth — sports are not enough and summer only lasts three months. There is a lack of businesses here that welcome youth or cater to them. This senseless act of vandalism occurred at 8:40 p.m. on a Wednesday night."
Patterson said because she has the offenders on video she believes they will be caught. But she is also pointing the finger at the parents of the alleged offenders. "I still think their parents should be held accountable, but I'm not as upset as I was this morning thanks to the support of this community."