Local business gives back despite their own setbacks
By Lethbridge Herald on September 2, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A downtown small business is spreading smiles and joy to everyone despite challenges they’ve faced in the past year.
When Riley and Diane Walburger opened the doors of Cookie Crimes, they had one goal: to make the world a brighter place, even by just by a little bit. And who’s day doesn’t get brighter from ice cream and cookies?
Unfortunately, their sweets were the victim of four break-ins at their Festival Square location within the first year. That caused some financial difficulties as the cost of fixing the damages wasn’t enough for an insurance deductible.
When the Walburgers came to a breaking point last September, the community rallied around them to help cover the cost of roll shutters to protect their front window from vandals and thieves.
Despite their challenges, they’ve remained empathetic to the unhoused population downtown and Riley says it’s because he believes it’s important to separate the issues of drug use and homelessness, even if there is some overlap.
“Just because somebody is homeless does not mean they’re a bad person; they’ve obviously had a number of bad things happen to them and they’re in a difficult situation.”
He adds attacking the most vulnerable does more harm than good and will end up increasing drug use.
“My mindset and Diana’s mindset, we don’t think punching down is actually going to help the situation, it’s just going to make people more miserable, which is going to increase the drug use.”
Because of this mindset, they were concerned about even sharing their situation, due to fear of backlash from the community towards the vulnerable population. It was actually Diana’s sister-in-law who posted in the What’s Going On in Lethbridge Facebook group, which received a whopping 700 shares.
Cookie Crimes has been providing bottled water to anyone who asks at no expense and no purchase is necessary, in an effort to help folks deal with the recent heat waves.
Riley says he believes people shouldn’t be denied basic needs such as water just because of their circumstances. By providing free water, the Walburgers have been able to cultivate a relationship with those who also call downtown home.
“It’s incredibly gratifying,” says Riley. “We have people who come in that have never been a customer of ours that get water regularly and they’re very, very thankful for that and they’re becoming our friends.”
It’s not just non-paying customers who benefit from having a complimentary refreshing drink; many of Cookie Crimes’ paying customers are shocked to find out they don’t have to pay for water.
For the Walburgers the return on investment is well worth it.
“We’ll offer free water forever, as far as I’m concerned,” says Riley.
While being a business owner comes with many challenges, the growth Riley has seen in himself while on this journey of committing “crimes against cookies.”
“I was kind of a hermit type person and I really found a sense of community being downtown and getting to know all the other business owners.”
While the hot summer months are nearing an end, the Walburgers plan to continue bringing smiles to people’s faces throughout the cooler months because, as they point out, it’s never too cold for ice cream.
20-19
Fantastic article and congrats to this couples generous and understanding response to a difficult situation.