'It's just nice to have a place': Convenience store in Chatham, Ont. offers safe space for young cyclists
A convenience store in Chatham is opening its doors to lost or troubled cyclists as the weather warms and biking season begins.
The owner of Mighty Jim’s Variety on Grand Avenue East, Joannie Wonnacott said there’s been an open door policy for years, and is reminding customers to let their kids know they can use the store’s phone if needed, for whatever reason.
“It just gives them a place they can come,” Wonnacott said. “They are out riding their bike, their chain slipped or their back wheel broke or something like that and they need to get a hold of somebody, it's just nice to have a place.”
Wonnacott said staff urge young customers or any cyclists to bring their bikes inside the store, as thieves can strike in seconds.
“Bring your bike in. We have the room, turn it upside down if you have to if you don't have a stand, do whatever you want. Spend the time in the store you need. Get what you need, even if it's just coming in so that they can use the phone, bring your bike in!” she said.
In a Facebook post that’s been shared more than 500 times, Wonnacott urged parents to teach children their phone numbers along with a grandparent’s.
Joannie Wonnacott, owner of Mighty Jim’s Variety on Grand Avenue East in Chatham, Ont., says their doors are open to lost or troubled cyclists as the biking season begins. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) “The kids get out there and they're playing and then they forget their cell phone or they've lost power,” Wonnacott said. “They're riding their bike and they get maybe too far away, they forget where they are and they don't know how to get home and they don't know how to call anybody because all of their numbers are in their phone.”
“We don't want to see a kid coming in panic because they don't know a number and they don't know who to contact,” she added. “The kids need to memorize a number.”
Wonnacott explained they have no issue letting people use the store phone considering a lack of public pay phones these days, and hopes more businesses in Chatham will do the same.
“People talk about giving a coffee or buying a coffee for somebody, well, it's just like, OK, you're giving them a 10 minute phone call or a five minute phone call. Sometimes it's somebody that just needs to contact somebody to talk. We've had a few of those,” she said.
She continued, “We just want to be part of the neighbourhood. We want to be part of the solution instead of part of the reason.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Cybersecurity incident' shuts down London Drugs stores across Western Canada
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs were shut down Sunday after it was the victim of a “cybersecurity incident.”
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
Canucks pull off comeback, top Predators 4-3 in OT
Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime and the Vancouver Canucks came all the way back to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Aerial photos show wide devastation left by a deadly tornado in China's Guangzhou
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.