The Powassan community is amidst an on-going battle against an unnamed nemesis responsible for the sporadic dismantling of the municipality, specifically the Sportsplex and ballpark. In recent months this faceless entity has pulled lettering of off the municipality’s welcome sign, destroyed a rented tent set up for Canada Day festivities, and smashed windows – again and again.
As is the reality in most stories of good and evil this would be the scene to enter the hero. In Powassan's case, the community might require a superhero to take down those responsible. But in the absence of a Bat Signal, the community is at the mercy of technological defenses in the form of 14 surveillance cameras, which are now being installed at the Sportsplex and ballpark property, both inside and out.
The hope is that the mere presence of such recording devices would deter those involved and as a worst-case scenario at least capture footage revealing the faces of those guilty of the crimes. However, those faces when under attack might themselves change form, covering their features with hoodies and masks. Who knows how far these individuals would go in their battle against a non-existent enemy – the community in which they themselves belong.
It is time to take this attack personally. If these were your personal belongings being destroyed you would take every measure to keep it from happening again.
The truth of it is, these acts of vandalism are on your personal belongings. The Sportsplex and ballpark exist for the benefit of the community as a whole. They are areas that should be considered safe zones for children and when someone chooses to damage those safe zones, it affects the morale of every member of the community.
As Powassan residents, including those involved with the Lions Club – an avid supporter of community involvement and fundraising, grow frustrated with the situation, not to mention the pile of invoices faced by the Municipality to undo the damages done, it is too easy to lay blame on any one group. Too easy to say you will no longer help out or support community efforts. Too easy to say, “It’s not my problem.”
Disappointment in the current status can’t be a reason to opt out of community involvement and feel defeated.
Every person in every walk of life faces challenges and it is how those challenges are taken on that show the true strength of an individual or group.
The community has worked together to raise funds to create and maintain recreational opportunities, and to organize events for its members, which is a honourable feat in itself. But how far will you go as a community to defend what is yours?
At a time when volunteerism is in a down cycle and funds are low all around, it is easy to become disheartened and jaded when confronted with an irrational opponent.
The village of Burk’s Falls was matched with such an opponent in recent years with residents banding together to form a community watch team, each taking turns monitoring the affected neighbourhoods until the responsible vandals, no longer shielded by a veil of anonymity, halted their attack.
The Town of Kearney took the path of technology, installing cameras in public spaces, including their own community centre and Lions Park.
Having eyewitnesses to at least one account in particular, it has been made fairly certain those involved are youths likely rebelling against authority and the constant supervision that goes along with being young. Perhaps having their actions recorded by the eye in the sky will give them some satisfaction in finally receiving the attention they seem to be craving.
Unfortunately for them, these videos won’t be available for broadcast on YouTube along with digital proof of other youthful misadventures. No, these videos will instead be used to prosecute them in court and possibly put a final and just end to their attack.