Taking to the street on 118th Ave.
Community leaders, police kick off campaign to raise area's image
Sneh Duggal
The Edmonton Journal
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Constable Shane Brennan, left, in the More Than Cigars store on 118th Avenue at 96th Street, chats with Robyn Ferlyko about the We Believe in 118 Campaign, a new business block captain initiative.
CREDIT: Chris Schwarz, the Journal
Constable Shane Brennan, left, in the More Than Cigars store on 118th Avenue at 96th Street, chats with Robyn Ferlyko about the We Believe in 118 Campaign, a new business block captain initiative.
Barber shops, small bistros, restaurants and a few deserted-looking places with tinted windows are among some of the businesses and buildings that sit along 118th.
People can be seen on every block. Sometimes it's just a couple of individuals sitting on a ledge at the side of the road, looking out into the street.
But as the sun sets, things change, says Sunil Pereira, a customer at the Cafe Bistro on 118th Avenue.
"It's not a safe place to be at night," he said.
Darrell Jensen, an employee at the Shoppers Drug Mart at the corner of 118th and 95th Street, shares this sentiment.
"This is not an easy situation to control," he said, referring to prostitution and illegal drugs in the area.
It is this negative image that led members of the Edmonton community to launch the "We Believe in 118" campaign Wednesday.
"We're trying to tell people that this is a safe place in which to work," said Kris Andreychuk, a community service social worker with the neighbourhood empowerment team, one of the groups that initiated the campaign.
"We are celebrating the vibrancy of the community," said Andreychuk, adding that the campaign is an innovative way to reduce crime in the area.
Members of the empowerment team, police, the Alberta Avenue Business Association, and the city's bylaw services, walked into businesses along 118th Avenue on Wednesday afternoon to inform them about the campaign.
The first stop on their list was More Than Cigars at 9610 118th Ave. Manager Robyn Ferlyko said she is glad the city is running the campaign.
"It's working together toward a safer community," she said.
The group gave all the business owners window stickers with "We Believe in 118" written on them.
They will also recruit block captains--business owners who would act as the "go to" people for all the other businesses on a particular block should a problem or concern arise.
The block captains would provide a direct link between the businesses in the area and the police, Const. Andrew Larson said.
The avenue has a "stigma of negativity," he said. "We would like to bring more people into the area to enjoy what it has to offer."
Giving 118th Avenue a new look and a positive reputation is a little complicated, Jensen said.
"It's a no-win situation" because they'll just push drug dealers and prostitutes to another neighbourhood, he said.
Const. Shane Brennan said he wants the community and the business owners to know that the police support them and are trying to create a safer place to live, work and play. "I eat down here and do all kinds of things down here," said Brennan. "It's grassroots, vibrant; it's what you see is what you get."
In line with the revitalization of 118th, a new farmers market opens this week on Thursday. About 30 vendors will sell goods such as soups, salsas, breads, and desserts. Art, crafts, jewelry, and other accessories will also be sold.
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© The Edmonton Journal 2009
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Men dancing around in skimpy underwear in sexually suggestive kind of ways. Why the hell is that allowed on my streets? And why do people take their kids to see this? 
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