Sechelt is following the lead of Gibsons and launching its own Business Watch program.
The Gibsons Business Watch, which now has 19 volunteers signed up, ran its first patrols over the Easter long weekend. At the April 15 Sechelt council meeting, Mayor Darnelda Siegers said the final details are being put in place for a Business Watch in Sechelt based on the model established in Gibsons.
Siegers said the “three or four thousand dollars” that will be needed to run the program are coming out of the district’s discretionary funds. She also said an application is being prepared to see if the Business Watch is eligible for funding from the province because it’s part of the response to the health emergency.
“It is something the businesses and the RCMP and everybody feels will be beneficial at this point,” Siegers said. “It’s not looking like it’s going to be an ongoing program.”
Siegers also told council organizers are working to have the first volunteers on the streets this weekend.
In a release announcing the start of the program issued the morning after the council meeting, the district said Business Watch “will provide regular patrols in commercial areas during the current crisis… Volunteers will monitor commercial areas from their vehicles and report any suspicious or criminal activity they observe to the RCMP. They will not become involved in any situations or attempt contact with any perpetrators.”
“With businesses closing their doors and reduced pedestrian traffic in our commercial areas, businesses are left vulnerable to break-ins and vandalism,” said Siegers in the release. “During this very stressful time for our businesses we want to be there for them to help protect their property. This will do that and manage our RCMP resources effectively.”
The Sechelt program is now actively seeking additional volunteers.
They must be at least 19 years of age, not be under investigation by any police force, hold a valid B.C. driver’s licence if they’ll be acting as the driver of a volunteer vehicle, and consent to a criminal record check.
The district said it will cover the costs of the criminal record check and provide gas gift cards in lieu of submitting mileage claim forms.
Interested volunteers can contact Lucy Clark, community services coordinator, at [email protected]
