Couple fears young harasser will get away scot free

Jennifer Gil and her husband thought Jasper would be the perfect place to live.

“We could live anywhere, but we wanted to live in a small community, with the kids close to nature... it seemed perfect,” she said. But as it turns out, it hasn’t been so perfect.

For about the last 10 of the 12 years the pair has lived in Jasper, their west-end home has been the target of vandalism. And they think it’s just that – a target.

The two believe that the reason their house is the subject of attacks is because they’re from Korea. “When they’re running away they’re saying things in Japanese,” Gil said of the perpetrators. Though the culprits’ cultural reference is off, it’s telling just the same.

Their children are both given a hard time at school, a fact that makes their father, who had a lucrative career in Seoul, question his decision to raise his family here.

“I gave up everything to move to Canada,” said Gil’s husband Joseph, visibly upset. “Now I think that decision was wrong.” The Gils believe the attacks on their house are done by neighbourhood kids, especially because the acts of vandalism often occur the same day one of their own children comes home from school with a complaint that they’ve been bullied.

At school, Gil said her children are teased, for instance, about the Korean War cenotaph at the corner of Geikie Street and Pyramid Avenue, to which her extended family donated to show its respect for Canadians who fought in the war. “My daughter knows the whole history of families being buried alive,” she said. “It’s not a joking matter.”

That and other incidents have left the family feeling singled out and seriously considering leaving town for about the past two years.

But for the first time last weekend, after so many years of feeling helpless, the couple had what they feel may be a breakthrough.

After hearing the sound of boards cracking in the backyard at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, Gil’s husband caught one of the vandals red-handed and held him until the police arrived to apprehend him.

On April 27, the day after the arrest, Cpl. Tony Dolhan of the Jasper RCMP detachment said the investigation is ongoing and that he’s not at liberty to disclose information about the case. As well, those involved are young offenders which means their names can’t be released, though it’s believed more than one boy is involved.

For years troublemakers have rung the doorbell and caused damage to and thrown objects at the couple’s home. Their house backs onto the open space behind the trailer court, which makes it easy for vandals to disappear into the darkness.

“In the daytime it’s beautiful, in the nighttime there are lots of kids doing bad things,” said Gil. Timing likely led to the arrest of the young mischief-maker on the weekend. “He started earlier than usual, which is probably why we caught him,” she said.

For Gil, this may be the time to make an example and help stop vandalism in Jasper. “The police can handle it either way – a slap on the wrist or prosecute them to the full extent,” she said. “We need to send the message that this is not OK.”

But as word spreads through town, Gil has already heard that the parent of the arrested child is planning to fight back with claims that the child was injured when her husband apprehended him.

“Their name is protected, you can’t do anything. Even if they get caught we can’t do anything,” she said. “You see the light at the end of the tunnel and then wham, it’s gone again.”

For anyone in Jasper whose home has been the subject of vandalism, Jennifer Gil asks that they phone the police and place a report, because she fears that if the vandals aren’t taught a lesson, that the attacks will go on or get worse.

“It’s very unfortunate but when you are so helpless and you’ve been helpless for so long, when you’ve caught somebody you want something done about it,” she said. “And I’m sure there are others suffering in silence.”