A frightening robbery at Happy Cat Haven in Gibsons March 9 has prompted an outpouring of support – and practical help – for Happy Cat founder Violet Winegarden.
Winegarden has been running Happy Cat Haven out of her home on School Road in Gibsons for over 30 years.
According to Sunshine Coast RCMP, a female suspect robbed a resident in the 700 block of School Road outside the victim’s residence at about 4:30 p.m. on March 9.
“The suspect came up behind the resident, put something in her back (which was later determined to be a brush handle) and demanded money,” RCMP said. “The resident gave the suspect a large amount of cash and the suspect fled before the resident could get a look at her.”
Const. Ben Stewart, the RCMP member investigating the robbery, has been working with Winegarden and Happy Cat volunteers and they’ve already acted on his suggestion that all donations be deposited at the bank daily so there’s no cash on hand at Happy Cat anymore.
Happy Cat volunteers also raised donations from several local businesses to purchase a high-definition security camera. The unit was installed pro bono by Ron Edmonds of True Character Property Services and is now in operation.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact RCMP at 604-885-2266 and reference file 2018-1546.
