Bus vandalized by youth

SYDNEY — Four youth were caught on security video vandalizing a new $120,000 bus owned by MacGillivray Guest Home in Sydney, on Saturday, Sept. 18.

“It's senseless, frustrating for sure,” said CEO Jody Gentile. “It's a bus so important to our residents we wouldn't go without getting it fixed as quickly as possible.”

On Saturday evening, Gentile said a staff member saw the youths in the back parking lot around 7:30 p.m. and called the Cape Breton Regional Police.

Gentile said this wasn't the first time they've seen youth in their back-parking lot and they called police for that reason.

Damage to the bus was discovered afterwards. Checking the security cameras — which are all around the guest home property — four youths wearing hoodies were seen coming out of the woods behind the guest home and climbing up on a garage on the property.

“They were throwing large rocks, heavy boulders at our bus,” she said. “They meant to cause damage.”

Damage included breaking one of the side windows and denting the vehicle. Gentile doesn't know the cost to repair the damage yet. She said someone is fixing the damage temporarily.

“It's an odd size window so it will be a while before we can put a new window in,” she said, adding they had to order it from California.

FOR RESIDENT OUTINGS

Gentile said the bus is normally kept in a more secure location in their front parking lot but with renovations underway in the front of the building, it's been temporarily kept in the back of the building over the last couple weeks.

“Then unfortunately this happened,” she added.

Gentile said the bus is well utilized.

In the summer months it is used two to three times a week for outings such as dinners and concerts.

The bus is still used in the winter when the weather is good for outings from hockey games to concerts, or even for drives such as seeing the Christmas lights.

Gentile said they are getting

the repairs done as quickly as possible so the residents can get out before the bad weather hits.

The bus is new, purchased in 2020 for about $120,000, following several years of fundraising. Gentile said a lot of time and effort went into seeing this new bus become a reality for their residents. She said the community was generous in donating and helping them reach their goal.

“After COVID it was much needed by our residents, they were cooped up in here for quite some time,” she said. “They were very excited to be able to get out and to be travelling around the community again.

"What's happened - it's very frustrating all the way around.”

Gentile said the Cape Breton Regional Police are viewing their security tape. She hopes anyone with information on this vandalism will share it with them or the police.

“I hope we don't have any more trouble going forward,” she added.

Desiree Magnus, a spokesperson for the Cape Breton Regional Police, said police are investigating this vandalism and anyone with information is asked to contact police at 902-563-5151 or Crime Stoppers, 902-562-8477.

MacGillivray Guest Home is a not-for-profit long-term care campus, consisting of 86 long term care beds and one respite bed.