Letter urges action on mayhem in mall
Businessman says clients, shop owners
deterred from downtown
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The chief operating officer of the company that owns Yellowknife's Quality Inn is calling on NWT leaders to answer his "cry for help."
Felix Seiler, chief operating officer of the company that owns Yellowknife's Quality Inn, is urging leaders to address harassment issues at Centre Square Mall. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo |
Felix Seiler, of Holloway Lodging Corporation Inc., which owns 36 hotels across Canada including Yellowknife's Quality Inn and Super 8, is asking for leaders to address homelessness around the downtown business.
The company also owns part of the Centre Square Mall, he said.
Last week, he wrote a letter from his office in Grand Prairie, Alta., to Mayor Mark Heyck, Premier Bob McLeod, NWT MP Michael McLeod and the territory's MLAs, calling on them to take action on their shared concerns about homelessness in the city.
"Especially in the last three to six months, it's really deteriorated to the point where our staff get assaulted, they get spit on, they get swarmed if they try to say, well, 'You can't be there,'" Seiler said.
While Yellowknife is an alluring place with welcoming people, Seiler writes in his letter, "a crisis plays out daily on its streets with a portion of its people in need, neglected and marginalized in this, one of the richest countries in the world."
Seiler said he is frustrated that the social issue is spilling over into the mall and near the hotel, deterring customers.
"It's cutting into our business," he said, adding tenants don't want to be in the mall, and visitors just don't want to stay around that area anymore.
"If you're a tour group from Japan ... you don't want to get accosted when you step out of the hotel," Seiler said.
He said his business has had ongoing meetings with the mayor, city council and the RCMP.
They offered the RCMP a free satellite office in the mall so they could provide a larger presence there, but those suggestions weren't taken up, he said, although he added he knows the RCMP are already overwhelmed.
If shelters were open more frequently and there were more services available, it might prevent homeless individuals from having to find shelter at the mall, Seiler said.
Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne was one of the MLAs who received the letter. He said he appreciates Seiler's concerns, and that the city and territorial government are collaborating on how to address those social issues.
"It's nothing new to those that live here," Vanthuyne said, adding there is "no magic wand" to resolve homelessness.
The issue has been present for years and leaders are working on positive steps like a sobering centre, Housing First and a safe ride program that would offer street outreach services, Vanthuyne said.
"We are arguably putting our best foot forward to try to overcome some of these challenges," he said.
Caroline Cochrane, the minister responsible for addressing homelessness, stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer that the government recognizes the issue is a concern for businesses, residents and homeless people and stated the government is working to help those in need.
The government created a homelessness action plan with the City of Yellowknife last year, and has provided money in the 2017-18 budget for homelessness solutions.
"The GNWT is extending its continued support of Housing First, and financial support to create semi-independent units with the Yellowknife Women's Society and the Salvation Army," Cochrane stated.
"We have made some great strides in the last year and we will continue to work towards addressing these concerns."
Yesterday afternoon, Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green issued a response to Seiler's letter reiterating the projects that are underway to alleviate homelessness.
She stated she believes those projects show government is listening and acting on the issue.
