As the sole Walmart within a 144km vicinity, this discount store is crucial for many financially-strained families in the area and will be a significant loss to them. Situated between the Great Bear Rainforest and the Skeena River, the town of 12,000 has unexpectedly turned into a hub for crime, drug abuse, and homelessness. Local entrepreneurs lament that the formerly serene area now grapples with frequent shoplifting and vandalism, which often lead to violence.

Alarming statistics reveal that the crime index in Prince Rupert more than doubles the provincial norm and exceeds the national average by more than 3.5 times. While exact crime numbers for the current year are not provided, data from 2020 indicate the area documented 14,977 crimes per 100,000 residents. This figures against a provincial average of 6,040 in British Columbia, and 4,233 across Canada. Criminology specialist Neil Boyd explained to The Northern View that this trend signals a disturbing 10-year pattern.

Boyd noted that despite a slight dip in crime figures in 2024, the general forecast for the town remains gloomy. ‘People should be mindful to consider these crime statistics over a 10-year span,’ said the Simon Fraser University criminology professor emeritus. Canada Crime Report data confirms that the town significantly surpasses the national average for both violent and non-violent offences. The cause behind the surge remains uncertain.

In response, numerous stores have been closing their doors. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that Walmart recently closed, pointing to ‘safety concerns’ for both staff and patrons. ‘We recognize the value this store held for the community, and although this isn’t the outcome we hoped for, this decision followed a thorough review of alternatives,’ the store mentioned in a statement.

The closure followed an earlier temporary shutdown this year. Over the years, Walmart has also permanently closed all its locations in Portland, Oregon, after the CEO highlighted a historic rise in thefts. A recent poll by the Business Improvement Association of British Columbia revealed that two-thirds of 350 businesses in Prince Rupert reported a hike in disorder within stores over the past year.

They cited increased drug use and homeless encampments in the area, saying poverty was triggering an increase in theft and violence. Shockingly, the poll found that nearly one in five business owners said their business may not be financially viable beyond the next year unless conditions improve.

Marquis Wine Cellars owner John Clerides said his store is frequently hit with vandalism and shoplifting which costs him around $15,000 a year to remedy. Clerides, who comes from a family of downtown Prince Rupert business owners, said the situation has worsened dramatically only in recent years.

‘What this does in the long-term — you see this in the United States — is the downtown becomes a retail or food desert,’ he told the Vancouver Sun . ‘And when a street dies, a city dies. You are seeing that in the downtown.’