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Ruth Bonneville Free Press LOCAL - Portage Ave. Crime Photo of Mike Baire, owner of Mikey’s Barbershop in front of his busines on Portage ave. Friday. Three business owners along Portage Ave. are battling relentless crime, fires and drug use around their stores making it difficult at times for them and their customers. Neighbouring businesses are also fed up with open drug use, vandalism, threats, etc., Story: THRIFT STORE FRUSTRATION: A downtown thrift store battling relentless crime says the community has rallied around it — but not the NDP government. Susan Lockhart, president of Just Like New to You, said the store is being ignored by the NDP government as it calls for the province to extend a security rebate program to non-profit stores. See story by Chris Kitching May 8th, 2026