Renters should have SAFE as well as AFFORDABLE homes.  This safety should be ensured to tenants in the terms of rental leases, especially if advertised or mentioned in brochures.  Security at rental units should be enforced by Municipalities through fines/increased property taxes. Grants to improve security could be provided by municipalities to residential landlords who meet affordable housing qualifications. (See NOTE A.)

In 2019, an increase in crime was experienced at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower apartment building where I have lived for the past 22+ years,  in the Beltline community in Calgary. There were intruders in the building – even in broad daylight.  Multiple break-ins in the parked cars were occurring, with tenants even finding intruders sleeping in their cars. The building felt unsafe.  Boardwalk REIT’s letter dated June 18, 2019 to tenants at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower stated:  “There has been an increase in criminal activity at this property…We will continue to do what we can to ensure the building is secure….Working together we can protect your home  and ensure a safe environment.” 

Yet little improvement to security seemed to occur at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower.   “On-site security guards” were only provided in early July 2019 after an intruder with a large pole gained access to the building in the middle of the night, several tenants signed a petition and local as well as national media covered the story:

• Tenants of Boardwalk property in Calgary demand more security – CTV – July 3, 2019. (See video.)
• Tenants of Boardwalk property in Calgary demand more security – Canada News – July 3, 2019.

However, It seems that we no longer have “on-site security” at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower:  “On-call security” is listed in “Key Features” at https://www.bwalk.com/en-ca/rent/details/alberta/calgary/skygate-tower/. 

SAFETY TIPS were provided by a Calgary Police Community Resource Officer to tenants and to Boardwalk personnel at a tenants’ meeting at  Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower on October 3, 2019 including,as I recall, the following recommendations to foster security at the building:

• Security guards in apartment buildings:  police are not security guards.
• Security desk inside the lobby facing the front door and patio outside so that security guard can see outside activity and to deter potential intruders.
• Motion-activated lights and webcams for entrance-ways and parking lot.
• Electronic key fobs for doors are safer than manual keys that can be copied.
• Bright vests for security guards in order to be highly visible on their patrols of building and grounds.
• Sign outside for with telephone number for police to call for access to the building after outside doors are locked.
• Do not let unknown people in the building.

In 2018 there apparently were 81 crime/disorder incidents at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower– apparently a high level.

Boardwalk REIT has made some changes to improve security at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower, but more changes should be made – including placing terms of security in the lease so that renters who rent an apartment based on “on-site security” do not suddenly find themselves with “on-call” or NO security guards.  At the time that I rented at  Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower in 1997, an “on-site” security guard was available in the evenings – but this service disappeared after some time.

An on-site superintendent is an important deterrent to crime – by providing a constant presence in the building and familiar with who is and is not a tenant.  Tenants at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower  have acted to keep our on-site superintendents – see Boardwalk Rentals’ removal of on-site managers angers apartment tenants – CBC- December 16, 2015.

The Beltline was the community in Calgary with the highest crime/disorder in 2018 and 2019 as per the Calgary Police Crime and Disorder Map (see NOTE B).  The 9,902 crime/disorder incidents in the Beltline in 2019 was an increase of 9.3% from the 9,059 incidents reported in 2018.

Note the following media regarding CRIME at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower, in the Beltline, in Calgary and in Alberta:

1. Rise in crime reflects economic stress in Calgary, analyst tells police commission – CBC – November 27, 2019. "We're seeing almost a doubling of the number of incidents since 2014…”
2. Sixty per cent of Albertans feel crime is rising in their communities, poll finds – Edmonton Journal – January 11, 2020.  Half of Canadians say crime is rising in their communities, as confidence in police, courts wanes  - Angus Reid Institute – January 10, 2020
3. New crime trends emerging in Calgary due to COVID-19 crisis – Calgary Herald – April 23, 2020. Break and enters, violent crime calls have plummeted since pandemic began, Calgary police say – CBC - April 23, 2020.
4.  Witnesses report hearing gunshots in Calgary core – CTV – March 22, 2020. At 700 block of 17th Avenue S.W. in Calgary.
5. Stabbing inside Beltline hotel sends 1 person to hospital in critical condition – CBC – January 14, 2020.
6. Former Homeless Foundation board member who sexually preyed on addicted teens gets 5-year sentence - CBC - February 26, 2020.  Former Homeless Foundation board member pleads guilty to luring, child pornography and trafficking charges – CBC - August 23, 2019.  Weapons charge dropped against former homeless foundation member Robin Wortman – Calgary Herald – August 15, 2017.   Robin Wortman accused of using date-rape drug to sexually assault teenage boy – CBC on Yahoo News – March 13, 2017.  Events occurred at Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower.
7. Police respond to possible shooting in Beltline that left 1 injured – CBC – November 29, 2019. At 14th Avenue and 11th Street S.W.
8. Calgary Police investigating after early morning shooting in the Beltline – Calgary Sun – August 11, 2019.
9. Police seek owners of high-end bikes recovered from Calgary residence – CTV – July 12, 2019.  Two arrested in bicycle chop shop investigation – The City of Calgary Newsroom – July 12, 2019.  Occurred in Lower Mount Royal, close to the Beltline.
10. 84 charges for 2 people after Calgary police seize guns, drugs, and cash – June 27, 2019 – CBC. At the building behind Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower.
11. March for justice continues as 2007 Crazybull murder remains unsolved – October 8, 2017 – CTV. Killed on July 11, 2007 in a random attack in the Beltline near Boardwalk REIT’s Skygate Tower. (See video.)

Renters should have SAFE as well as AFFORDABLE homes.  Municipalities and other levels of government need to foster and protect this.

THANK YOU, fellow Canadians, for signing the petition!!  It really does help.  Let’s PROTECT RENTERS:  let’s make it a WIN-WIN-WIN solution for Renters and Community as well as Landlords.  Please pass the petition on to others!

Stay safe, stay healthy!                               

Anne

We the Courageous

NOTE A:  See the following UPDATE to this petition: “MAKE IT TOP PRIORITY:  Affordable housing is key to community prosperity – the FRONTLINE needs it”.

NOTE B:  The Calgary Police Crime and Disorder Map is apparently currently being revised.   I accessed the data on Crime and Disorder for Calgary prior to the revision.

About the Beltline and the photos:  The Beltline community in Calgary is in Wards 8 and 11 and has approximately 25,000 people living in 18,108 dwellings.  The majority of dwellings  - 15,820 - are “occupied apartments”. (See The City of Calgary 2019 Civic Census – pages 90, 108, 135.)

The photos of the Beltline:  apartment dwellings and new construction – including of Homespace affordable housing; “Always 17th – for over 130 years. Over 400 shops restaurants, services...” at Tomkins Park;  on 17th Ave S.W - business closure, homeless person,  ATB Financial Entrepreneurial Centre; NEW condo tower with NEWLY opened Canadian Tire and Urban Fare stores; vistas down 8th Street S.W. and 11th Street S.W.;  greenspaces at Barb Scott Park at 13th Ave. S.W., Central Memorial Park and historic Lougheed House; Grace Presbyterian Church;  murals on buildings - Beltline Urban Murals Project ;  Boardwalk  REIT's Skygate Tower;  Calgary Stampede Yahoo sign at Tomkins Park;  positive billboard message by getmoby.com during COVID-19:  “’If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours’:  Dolly Parton”.