GLENDON – Farmers and landowners from across the Lakeland gathered in Glendon on Saturday to share their experiences with rural crime and call for action.
“Our communities aren’t full of prejudice, hateful, racist, or violent people, but we’re tired of living in fear,” organizer Michael Thompson told the group gathered at Pyrogy Park on Aug. 29. “We’re tired of criminals taking what belongs to us and there not being consequences that prevent them from re-offending. Thieves know that nothing is going to happen to them.”
Village of Glendon Mayor Laura Papirny noted the turnout showed just how much frustration there is locally, and across the region.
“It’s a huge issue and it’s such a huge scope from addictions to the justice system. It’s a huge program and it would be great to work toward a solution.”
The rally was meant to serve as a starting point on coming up with ways to address rural crime and give those affected by it an outlet to share their stories.
One of those who stepped up to the mic was Wesley Janz, who lives in the Franchere area. He recalled spraying his field late one night, only to go back the next morning and find his property damaged.
“The battery was missing, the tank was drained of gas, and they took (full markers) off the side of the sprayer. I was left with a big mess to try to fix and clean up,” he told attendees.
Janz stressed the importance of residents coming together to help one another.
“We’ve got to take a stand together and try to watch out for each other in the community.”
Thompson said rural crime rates have "exploded" over the last few years and police response times have decreased significantly during that time.
“I believe all levels of government need to know how bad things have gotten for the farmers and community members,” he expressed. “Our police need more resources so they can respond effectively when we call them, and our justice system must also start taking rural crime seriously and deliver appropriate sentences to those committing the crimes.”
Brent Gogol has seen this escalation first hand. Last year, Gogol and his neighbour were the targets of multiple thefts for almost a week straight around the Two Hills area.
An issue he raised was the large area rural RCMP detachments cover and victims are crimes being left in the dark.
“They can’t be there as quickly as we want, so what are our rights and our responses going to be?” he stated, adding the criminal justice system needs to get tougher.
Attendee Lorraine Marks agreed, “I think what has to happen is we have to have a government and we need to have people that are going to be more willing to punish the people that are committing crimes.”
Marks encouraged everyone attending the rally to share their frustrations and make sure they’re heard.
“I think everybody here has a voice and most of us have a computer, if not then we have a paper and pen, and we have to talk to our MLAs, to all politicians about what’s going on, and make them know that we can’t tolerate this anymore and when it comes to people dying because they’re trying to protect their property, we have a real problem.”
The rally was described by Thompson as “day one of what we can hope will become a more powerful, positive movement for the farmers and Albertans who live in fear.”
