Grand Falls-Windsor shop vandalized again, and the owner says it's targeted

A store owner in central Newfoundland says her shop was vandalized over the weekend, and firmly believes she was targeted because of a Pride flag displayed in the front window.

Natalie Smith, the owner of C&S Unique Gifts and Newfoundland Souvenirs in Grand Falls-Windsor, said her window was shot out.

"It's very disheartening to know that somebody could stoop as low as [to] damage our property for something they believe in," Smith told CBC radio's Newfoundland Morning.

"They're trying to put fear into people to, like, not share their own beliefs, whether that is equal rights for everybody."

She said it's the second time this has happened. In November of 2023 the shop window was also broken. On the ground, she found pellets, she said, leaving her with an idea of what to look for this time around.

"And sure enough, I found it," she said.

The store has video surveillance. Smith said someone fired at her shop from a moving vehicle around 3 a.m. on Sunday.

"The person was actually driving by on the main road when they shot the window. So we did get some camera footage," she said.

Smith hopes the footage can identify the car and maybe identify who destroyed her window.

In an email to CBC News, the RCMP said it is investigating and police are asking anyone with information to reach out.

'We are allies'

Smith said the first time her window was shot at was during anti-2SLGBTQ+ protests in the community. In response, the Pride community committed to hosting its parade to combat the spread of misinformation.

"Shortly after that, that's when I found four of our windows had little pellet holes, like BB gun shots in them," Smith said. "And then I thought it has to be the march, because we are big supporters of the LGBTQ community."

She said she'd had Pride flags in her windows for years, including during the first incident.

There was an investigation at the time, she said, but the officer couldn't say if it was targeted.

"But now this time around it was one window pane, so [it] happened to be the exact same window that has the Pride flag and the Every Child Matters flag," said Smith. "That was the only one that was hit."

After the weekend, she said she did briefly consider removing the Pride flag.

"And then I thought, 'No, I'm not doing it. This is who we are.' We fly that flag because we are allies. We fly that flag because we want people to know that this is a safe space for anybody," she said.

Since the window was broken, Smith said she has seen a lot of support, which has also bolstered her resolve to keep the flag up and that she won't be scared into taking it down.

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