Mayoral candidates talk downtown fencing

“I would not be opposed to looking at the Margo Fournier Centre to be that,” he said, adding that existing programming at the centre would have to be relocated to a different venue convenient for users, particularly seniors.

As for the fence currently surrounding the Margo Fournier Centre, Hickie called for it to be removed.

“Clearly we have a Mayor, and city manager it appears, that think that they can just fence out homelessness,” he said.

The Margo Fournier Centre and lawn have been fenced off since August. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Margo Fournier Centre fence to come down: Mayor

Incumbent Greg Dionne rejected Hickie’s assertions and said the City has made progress on addressing homelessness. He cited the new cold weather shelter being headed by YWCA and River Bank Development Corporation with support from the City as an example. He added he’d also been encouraged by recent promises from Premier Scott Moe for improved mental health care supports.

Dionne said the Margo Fournier Centre fence will soon be coming down with programming at the facility restarting. He said the city installed the barrier to protect staff and the building while it was closed to the public due to the pandemic.

“At the time was it the answer? No,” said Dionne. “Was it a short-term fix? Yes. And so moving forward we have to come up with a better solution, but we think we got a handle on it now working with the province, the YWCA, River Bank Development, we’ve involved quite a few of the other community organizations and I’ve got to give them credit for stepping up and helping us with this problem.”

Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Dennis Nowoselsky criticized the City’s decision to erect the fence in the first place.

“It’s a terrible image,” he said. “If they’re dealing with concerns about vagrants or people sleeping by there or defecating there, deal with the people that are causing the problem. But when you start putting fences around public buildings you start to wonder ‘are we carrying the jail concept all over the community,’ it’s crazy.”

Candidate Josh Morrow similarly suggested the barriers send the wrong message.

“I believe that all the temporary fencing that’s going up, it’s not only a deterrent to the people that they’re trying to relocate, but it’s a massive deterrent to future investment and potential customers for the downtown core,” he said.

The fomer Staples building at the Gateway Mall has also been fenced off. Mall management says there haven’t been any issues at the location and it was done as ‘a proactive measure.’ (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

COVID crime concerns

Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District Executive Director Carolyn Carleton said several downtown businesses were advised by police to fence off their entrances near the time COVID-19 first reached that city in the spring.

“If you have an enclosed doorway, it gives people an opportunity to hide or break-in. So, it was helping the police so they didn’t have as many calls [while they were dealing with the pandemic],” she said. “And it protected the business owners who weren’t going to their businesses every day so it gave them some peace of mind so they could stay home as well.”

A spokesperson for P.A. Police would not comment specifically on fencing but said they often will give businesses suggestions on how to improve safety at their properties, such as with better lighting or security.

Carleton said while break-ins were a concern in the spring, downtown businesses haven’t raised the issue with her recently.

The riverbank gazebo has been fenced off since August. The City says it is installing lighting and renovating the structure. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom

by Alison Sandstrom

Mayoral candidates talk downtown fencing

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