‘I burned a lot of bridges’: Convicted arsonist returns to Penticton to make amends

PENTICTON – Pounding the ivories of a public piano in downtown Penticton, Phoenix Caine’s raspy, soulful voice captures a small crowd.

The 23-year-old said he never thought he would return to his hometown because of his past.

“Stepping foot back into the Okanagan, in general, was a very tough decision,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Stepping foot back into the Okanagan, in general, was a very tough decision," he said.

When Caine was 14, he and two other teenagers set The Hamlets on fire. The building was under construction, but near completion. Two of the five buildings were completely destroyed, with damage estimated at $10 million.

To this day, he cannot explain why he did it.

“There was no gain; there was no rhyme or reason about it. It was three teenagers who made a very negative decision.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There was no gain; there was no rhyme or reason about it. It was three teenagers who made a very negative decision."

He was convicted and sent to the B.C. Youth Custody Centre in Prince George.

Caine admitted jail didn’t help him, and instead, made him angrier.

He had a turbulent upbringing, being moved from foster home to foster home.

Just before his 18th birthday, he burned down the Osoyoos Christian Ministry thrift store in 2011, causing damage to neighbouring buildings.

In that fire, he was the only person responsible and said he wanted to get caught.

“I wanted to go to prison. It’s a sad truth, it is painful to admit but I wanted to get out of the situation I was in,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I wanted to go to prison. It's a sad truth, it is painful to admit but I wanted to get out of the situation I was in," he said.

After serving 2.5 years behind bars, he learned that he never wanted to return to prison.

Caine said he wants to make amends with the community by giving back with the only way he knows how: music.

“I don’t do it for money. I don’t do it for glory. I do it because I love it,” he said. “There’s a sense of joy and true happiness that I have longed for — for many years.”

Caine will be in Penticton for one more week before he pursues his music career in Vancouver.

He said he will be busking in the big city and has been asked to be a part of a music documentary.

Caine plays at the public piano on Martin Street and Westminister Avenue West in Penticton.