A North End childcare centre is making a desperate call for help after what it says has been a year of harassment, hateful graffiti, theft and, most recently, a break-in. Staff at the Little Stars Playhouse on Selkirk Avenue said the constant crime has left them scared. “We’re afraid for our lives here,” said Gerrie Prymak, board director at the Indigenous-led daycare. Prymak said staff have faced a string of escalating incidents. “it’s just gotten so bad.” The most recent happened the morning of Oct. 3. Prymak said thieves ripped off the centre’s outdoor security system in broad daylight, smashed a window and broke in. Stolen items include laptops, iPads, children’s lunch coolers, jackets and a specialty four-seater stroller. Between the damage and the stolen items, the centre is out more than $10,000. “It just seems like that whole budget is just gone, you know, and we’re cutting back on a whole bunch of other things.” Prymak said the break-in was just one incident. Over the past year, Prymak said, staff have been harassed and met with threatening graffiti outside their door. In August, someone set fire to the centre’s garbage bins. “They just completely burnt them right to the ground, and the flames were like so close to our door.” She believes much of the crime is coming from several boarded-up houses on her block, where she often sees people coming and going. “Everyone is afraid of what goes on in these houses…. it doesn’t feel safe at all.” Darrell Warren of the William Whyte Neighbourhood Association said he is doing what he can to help the centre, including going on evening patrols. “But I can’t be there all the time, unfortunately,” Warren said. Warren said the area needs more police foot patrols. “Chances are these people that are responsible for what’s going on at the daycare will see more police presence, and that’s what we need there.” Winnipeg police have confirmed their major crimes unit is investigating the Oct. 3 break-in. Prymak is worried for the future of the centre if incidents like this keep happening. “This is not a safe area, but we shouldn’t take away the childcare. We should make sure it exists and make sure it’s safe, you know. Help Winnipeg, please help us. That’s what I want.” The centre is asking for donations to help replace the specialty stroller, which is estimated to cost about $2,000. It also needs help replacing the security system that was damaged in the break-in.
