Teenagers return to scene of Port Alberni vandalism in act of restitution

CHEK
WatchAfter several rail cars were vandalized in Port Alberni last week two teenagers returned to the train yard to clean up the mess in an act of restitution.

At the end of a rail line in a Port Alberni train yard, an act of restitution took place Wednesday afternoon as two teenagers picked up pieces of glass and cleaned up rail cars after an act of vandalism last week.

“I think this is the best thing that could have happened,” said Bill Walker, a volunteer with Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society.

Two youths face criminal charges of mischief after two teenagers were caught on Aug. 12 breaking windows and causing about $6,500 in damage to the rail cars used for the McLean Mill train tours.

When the boy’s parents learned about the accusations, they say they wanted to make things right.

“To own up to their actions and take responsibility,” one of the mother’s told CHEK News Wednesday as her child picked up glass nearby. “And I hope everybody else in the community is just as forgiving as the volunteers here.”

The boys and the mother we spoke to can’t be identified because the boys are youths and still face criminal charges.

Volunteers at the Industrial Heritage Society say they’re impressed that the boys came to make amends.

“And they both work really hard. I’m really pleased with both of them for coming down here and volunteering their time,” saidWalker.

“They owned up to it and said we want to make this good and I’ll bring the kids down here and they’ll be here as long as you need them and have work for them to do so that was pretty nice,” said society president Peter Geddes.

One of the teens is also donating six months of his allowance to help pay for the broken windows.

The community has also responding to an appeal to the glass replacement.

Dean StoltzDean Stoltz

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