Business owners in downtown Kelowna call for help 200 times a week

Business owners in downtown Kelowna feel overwhelmed with crime and homelessness and many are relying on a citizen patrol team to make sure their customers feel safe.

The Downtown Kelowna Association operates an on-call team, recognizable by their red jackets. The eight team members deal with loitering, aggressive panhandlers and other concerns from businesses downtown, and it’s typical for the team to deal with around one hundred incidents a week.

Paula Quinn is the executive director of the Downtown Kelowna Association and she said the on-call team received 484 calls from businesses between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5. Sixteen of those calls had to be directed to RCMP.

“That’s not unusual. That’s most usual,” she said. 

The on-call team have no authority, they aren’t police officers or bylaw officers, but they address loitering in storefronts, aggressive panhandling, disposing of drug paraphernalia like needles and helping workers get to their cars or buses safely.

“They’re like a big comfy blanket. They make people feel comfortable, and they’re there to support them quickly,” Quinn said. 

There were 198 incidents, 279 requests for business visits and seven requests for needle pickups over the course of roughly two weeks. There are four on-call patrollers on the job at a time from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. 

Quinn said the team’s job isn’t dangerous since they know most of the homeless population and can deal with issues for businesses in a non-confrontational way. 

“They know them by first name. They’ve built relationships with them so that they come in not in an aggressive or authoritarian manner. They come very much noticeable with their red coats and their smile to try and de-escalate any issues that might occur,” Quinn said.

Eric Lee owns two restaurants downtown, Yuzu Bowl and Bistro and Sushi Sai on Ellis Street. He said the on-call team, or red coats, are helpful but they aren’t enough to deal with actual crime like theft and broken windows.

‘No justice served’: Downtown Kelowna restaurateur feels powerless against petty crime 

“They’re doing great, but it’s just like a bandage to cover up the problem. Their job is to ask them nicely to move their stuff, but they can’t enforce anything,” Lee previously told iNFOnews.ca. “Then if they don’t listen, they call RCMP, which will take like two or three hours.”

Lee said the red coats can only do so much and he wants to see a range of solutions for the issues facing downtown, including more police patrols. 

“Everybody is afraid to break the law, but there are some people who have nothing to lose and when they break the law, there’s no consequences. There’s no justice served. This is a big problem for us,” he said.

Todd Daniels owns Gallery Streetwear on Bernard Street and he took to social media after someone smashed the windows on his storefront. 

@gallerystreetwear

Please watch until the end — this affects all of us. What’s happening in downtown Kelowna is not isolated, and it’s not acceptable. Gallery Streetwear was recently broken into, but we are far from alone. Businesses throughout the downtown core have been hit — some repeatedly — and many more are operating with constant fear. This isn’t just about broken windows or stolen product. It’s about staff safety, public safety, and the future of our downtown community. Two weeks ago, one of our staff members was bear sprayed outside the shop for no reason. No one should feel unsafe going to work, shopping downtown, or simply walking these streets. Small businesses are already under extreme pressure — high rents, reduced foot traffic, rising costs — and now increasing crime and insurance costs are being added on top. As it stands, downtown Kelowna is heading toward serious decline. When the street level feels unsafe or neglected, businesses leave, residents follow, and both commercial and residential value collapse. We’re not asking for sympathy. We’re asking for accountability, collaboration, and immediate action. We invite everyone with a stake in downtown — businesses, landlords, developers, and the city — to come together to work on real solutions now. If you believe this matters, please help us spread this message. Share this post. Comment. Talk about it. The more people who see this, the harder it is to ignore. Thank you to our friends, customers, and fellow business owners for the continued support and love. Thank you for supporting local and standing with the downtown community. Viva la revolution. @downtownkelowna @cityofkelowna @thehypekelowna @lavenderandgrace @poshjewelrykelowna @lululemon @arcteryx @lagreekelowna @hitzboutiquekelowna @macdermottsmenswear @frockandfellow @alchemyfinegoods @humokelowna @biaboro_ @justpeachykelowna @oneboardshopkelowna @cyclepathkelowna @tomdyas @ohbabyconsignmentco @shopmogano @baked.bycindy @shopfunktional @burnettsfloristandgifts @jorgiabrows @ouryogaspace @keltaquero @tacodelhi @hempcity_lavalab

♬ original sound – Gallery Streetwear

The Downtown Kelowna Association’s Quinn said sometimes people expect the red coats to be able to do things beyond their authority which aren’t possible. 

“People can find that upsetting because they feel that they’re not getting what they’re supposed to be receiving, but that is not what we’re mandated for,” she said. 

Quinn said it’s normal for the on-call team to get hundreds of calls a week, but Kelowna RCMP said there has been a spike in calls to police about “social disorder” downtown.

“We understand the concerns businesses are experiencing downtown,” RCMP Supt. Chris Goebel said in a press release. “Mischief, assaults, and thefts are unacceptable. Our officers respond based on urgency and risk to public safety, ensuring in‑progress emergencies are addressed first. We remain focused on prevention, accountability, and supporting those affected.”

RCMP said there was an increase in mischief over $5,000 in December and it highlights “the importance of proactive property protection and is what our downtown business community is feeling.”

The city’s community safety director Darren Caul said they are working closely with the on-call team and RCMP to deal with safety issues downtown.

“We’re working alongside RCMP, and the Downtown On‑Call (Red Shirts) team to address social disorder and support businesses with practical measures that enhance safety and livability,” Caul said in a press release.

Kelowna’s mayor Tom Dyas said in a written statement on social media he is planning to host a forum next month to hear directly from downtown business owners about crime, vandalism and disorder in the area in the hope of finding “immediate local solutions and long-term strategies.”

“No one should feel unsafe opening their business, going to work, or spending time in our city’s urban centres,” Dyas said in the statement.