NOTE: The province of B.C. has once again declared a week in February as Chamber of Commerce Week. This year, it runs Feb. 12 to 16, and the 91原创 Advance Times, worked with the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce to put together a series of stories to inform people in 91原创 about the local business organization and what it does to bolster and advocate for companies in this community.

A Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce list of recent crime-related incidents at local businesses was a long one.

It included smashed windows, vandalism, and theft at several businesses, metal theft that cut lines to rooftop refrigeration units and spoiled ingredients at a local restaurant, fires lit outside an office entrance that damaged the building exterior, and patio furniture stolen from a local cafe.

Chamber members report showing up at their office or storefront to find human waste, broken glass, drug paraphernalia, or people unwilling to move.

All too often, those responsible are repeat offenders, put back on the street despite committing multiple crimes.

The chamber has joined with other business groups to call for action on all fronts, with mental health supports that are available when needed, addictions treatment spaces that can be readily accessed, and affordable housing and shelter space to move people off the streets, along with better enforcement of the law.

Every day, a frustrated Ken Dennis, chamber past president, can see how a 鈥渓enient鈥� approach is favouring repeat offenders over law-abiding citizens.

鈥淚 look out the window [of my business] every morning,鈥� described Dennis, founder of the 91原创 City-based Dennis Network of Companies.

鈥淚鈥檝e had people offering sex in the parking lot, I鈥檝e had drug users sitting behind containers, we鈥檝e had our garbage catch fire.鈥�

Theft, robbery, property damage, vandalism, and the creation of encampments outside struggling small businesses have become 鈥渁larmingly common,鈥� Dennis commented.

鈥淭here鈥檚 enough challenges to business already,鈥� he remarked.

鈥淢y wife saw a lady doing drugs right in the bus stop [in Brookswood], called up 9-1-1, and it鈥檚 like, 鈥榳e don鈥檛 attend those kinds of things鈥�.鈥�

When they complained, Dennis said the mayor and 91原创 RCMP did respond, and changes were made to ensure public spaces, including bus stops, would be 鈥渁ppropriately policed.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创 chamber urging action to address business crime

Tanya Gabara, a chamber board director, called the situation 鈥渉eartbreaking and frustrating all at the same time.鈥�

As director of public relations for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Ltd., the parent company for 91原创鈥檚 Cascades Casino Resort, Gabara has seen the impact of repeated acts of vandalism by habitual offenders.

鈥淵ou get frustrated that your business is being impacted, or your customers are being impacted, your employees are being impacted, but you also want to see that person [the repeat offender] taken care of and handled appropriately,鈥� Gabara commented.

鈥淭heir issues need to be taken care of, but the criminal actions also need to be properly addressed,鈥� Gabara added.

Gabara said many small businesses 鈥渉ave to clean up the mess before they can start their business day with regards to vandalism, and it鈥檚 a big cost to them. These businesses are trying so hard to be successful and it鈥檚 just another thing that gets in the way, and there鈥檚 only so much they can do as a business owner. It鈥檚 constant and it鈥檚 unfortunate.鈥�

鈥淲e want to make sure that our business community is being protected and and their needs are being considered,鈥� Gabara told the 91原创 Advance Times.

The Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate provincially and federally for programs to support affected businesses, such as the recently-announced, provincially-funded $10.5 million , administered by the B.C. Chamber, of which the 91原创 chamber is a member.

It provides anti-vandalism funding to help businesses with fewer than 50 employees recoup the costs of repairing damage and to take steps to prevent future issues, with up to $5,000 per business available until January 2025.

Describing himself as 鈥渇ed up with the prevalence of drug use and petty crime that is plaguing our communities,鈥� Dennis has launched a direct petition to the federal government, created with the assistance of 91原创 鈥� Aldergrove MP Tako van Popta.

Posted to the parliament website on Jan. 22, calls for stricter regulations on open drug use, and the repeal of 鈥渟oft-on-crime and catch-and-release policies that have directly contributed to the rising rate of crime.鈥�

If the e-petition collects at least 500 signatures by its May 21 deadline, van Popta can present it to the House of Commons and the government will be expected to table a response.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 4, 170 had signed.

READ ALSO: 47 people lost to unregulated drug supply crisis in 91原创 last year