The Ridge Meadows Chamber is deeply saddened by the recent incidents of local businesses falling victim to break-ins, echoing the collective distress of our business community.

"The Maple Ridge business community has seen an uptick in crime over the past few months and we are deeply concerned about the trend that is developing," said Jerry Kok, Ridge Meadows Chamber President. "There have been multiple incidents of vandalism, break and enter, and theft, that have impacted multiple businesses in the downtown core. These crimes not only affect those businesses directly but also the entire business community as a whole. When a small business gets vandalized, it not only takes a financial toll but also an emotional one".

"As president of The Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce, and as a citizen of Maple Ridge, I am disheartened when I hear about these sorts of incidents," said Jerry. "I can assure you, however, that the Chamber stands with our business community and continues to advocate on its behalf. We are active in community safety initiatives that benefit the business community and involved in meetings with the RCMP and the City of Maple Ridge sharing our collective concerns with the different stakeholders in our community, and striving to find the best possible remedy to this significant problem"

Among the affected businesses is Vanilla Bean Bake Shop, a valued member of the Chamber and one of our esteemed Board of Directors.

"The recent break-ins in Maple Ridge have affected my business first and foremost, in that we were broken into and robbed. We had the cash register emptied and the tablet iPad stolen with all our orders, emails, and private information. The damage has been a huge financial burden to us especially in our slowest month as a newer business. It's not about the money though, it's about the invasion," said Livesey.

"The emotional impact this has had on us as a team and business owner," said Taylor, "my business is an extension of me, anyone that knows us knows this to be true; I feel violated, and defeated, this invasion has opened old wounds for me. What was supposed to be a very exciting and changing time for us this January, has turned into a dark and sad shadow following us around. I am confident we will find the person who did this to us, and I have all the faith in the City & Council that all efforts are being made within their abilities to help with this ongoing situation. This is not a slight increase in crime and should not be labeled as so."

The Ridge Meadows Chamber is committed to leveraging its strong working relationship with the City to initiate a collective response to this challenge. The Chamber serves as a platform to advocate for solutions and convey the specific needs of the business community to the City authorities.

Kristi Maier, Ridge Meadows Chamber Executive Director acknowledges the recently launched small business rebate program by the provincial government as a positive step, but the Chamber emphasizes the necessity for additional support. "Last year, we successfully secured the Building Safer Communities funding from the federal government, and we believe that more initiatives of this nature are crucial to fortify our local businesses against such incidents," said Maier.

"It's crucial to recognize that this issue extends beyond Maple Ridge; it is a shared concern for numerous businesses across the Province," said Kristi. "We live, work, and play in such a vibrant and beautiful community, amidst the challenges we face, we can't lose sight of the incredible place we call home. Addressing these challenges is crucial, and the Chamber is dedicated to advocating for our businesses".