Photo: Sheree Wolansky Front porch camera at Stockwell Avenue and Graham Street in Kelowna A woman who lives in downtown Kelowna says tourists in her neighborhood are now a daily occurrence. Sheree Wolansky says she lives at her home near Stockwell Ave. and on Graham St. for 21 years, but things have gradually gotten worse. “We’re having encounters with people coming into our properties that we didn’t have before, just really weird things happening in our neighborhoods, with the transients roaming around in the middle of the night.” Wolansky says she recently stepped out on her back porch and suddenly found herself face to face with a very drunk man in her yard. “I mean, it just went right by. We love being downtown, but it seems to be getting worse and worse with people trespassing,” Wolansky says. Like many people, Wolansky calls the RCMP often, but knows they have their hands full with more important calls. However, she was a little unsettled by the city’s top police officer, who explained that high crime rates are largely due to the city’s tourism sector, lack of social services and growing population. “Is the problem with tourism? I’m not sure, is that what we call transient populations now? That was a big slap in the face. Tourists are not somebody who comes to my porch and gets something. So that was something else that helped all of us a little bit — tourists go to the wineries,” Wolansky said. Wolansky and her husband have considered selling their property and moving away from downtown, but so far she hasn’t completely given up hope. “I love my little grandmother’s 1947 house, but at the same time I want to feel safe in my own backyard.” Kelowna RCMP continue to encourage residents to call them if they feel unsafe for any reason. It helps the detachment to deploy resources accordingly.