A sense of humour can help in a bad situation, like the one Hollinger Miniputt owner Don Marcoux finds himself in. Because of a homeless encampment behind the pavilion in Hollinger Park, business this year is not at par.
“Certainly isn’t. We’re sort of in the hole,” he notes.
Marcoux says the encampment makes people nervous about going to the miniputt, especially at night, because of the stigma associating the campers with crime and drug issues. And he says customers don’t want to use the washrooms outside his fence.
“For any reason they do feel unsafe, I have a porta potty on my property, strictly for miniputt customers. Hopefully that’ll help ‘til the end of the season.”
Marcoux says his business is down 30-40%. He admits that a small part is because people think he hasn’t reopened since a fire last summer, or a recent fallen tree on his property.
He also lays blame on a self-proclaimed homeless advocate who won’t go public with his identity or intentions and has encouraged encampments and supplied tents.
“This is wrong,” Marcoux angrily states. I understand the whole principle he’s trying to do, but don’t do it where there’s children. You’re automatically failing. That’s not how you get support for the homeless. All you’re doing is making them targets.”
Marcoux says the hands of City Hall and police are tied, without provincial laws concerning encampments that they can enforce.
