Calgary restaurant manager recounts violent confrontation, blames surge in crime, drugs [Video]

A violent confrontation between the manager of a downtown Calgary restaurant and a person experiencing homelessness is an example of the surge in the level of violence, drugs and vandalism that businesses say they are being forced to deal with on a daily basis.

Danielle Wilkins, who manages The Wednesday Room on Stephen Avenue Mall says the confrontation took place on Sept. 25, 2024, as she and staff were preparing to open the restaurant for lunch.

“An individual had decided to urinate in the street in broad daylight,” said Wilkins.  “I had asked her to move her stuff and not do that in public — you know, we were getting ready to open — and that kinda started the snowball effect of the interaction I had with her that day.

“She started throwing items at me from her shopping cart, said Wilkins. “She decided to follow me onto the patio so I turned around and she charged at me at attacked me. She closed fists and …