a peek inside the fishbowl

1 | Marla

June 9th, 2007 at 6:57 am

Scary.

2 | porter

June 9th, 2007 at 7:52 am

That is horrible, such a violation to your community. Thank goodness it turned out well in the end.

3 | katie

June 9th, 2007 at 9:13 am

Ummmm… okay. How do I say this very carefully. I don’t think it is a “violation” of your community. Sorry. It’s crime / craziness and it happens in all types of communities.

Sometimes I think that more affluent, middle-class neighborhoods get lulled into a false sense of security. Westboro is to be commended for it’s mix of residents… it isn’t ALL affluence, but it is a predominantly a white / professional / government neighborhood with more than it’s share of volvos and subarus.Did I mention I love Westboro? I do, it’s a great place. I’m not putting it down, I just think when well-to-do people cluster together in a neighborhood, they don’t expect crime / mental health sufferers to visit.

I just don’t like the way that the news was spinning the “how could it happen in a *this* neighborhood” story. I found that a bit insulting. Westboro gentrification has pushed an “unwanted element” out of this area to the point that it is considered completely safe / innoculized against craziness. If this had happened in Vanier, nobody in the news would be commenting on the “how could it happen here” factor.

I’m sorry, I just find it a bit depressing. I in no way mean to insult people living there.

4 | katie

June 9th, 2007 at 9:23 am

Andrea, just read your reply to an earlier question I had re: neighborhood. I suspected that you got into the area more than 8 years ago. Smart Cookies!

I hope you don’t take offense about my rant on gentrification and how it pushes the “unwanted element” to the fringes. I don’t mean to offend and I certainly don’t think you are an uber-yuppie with no social conscience! I just get a bit down about social justice stuff and mental illness and how insulated we can be against it all, ya know?

5 | Porter

June 9th, 2007 at 9:28 am

I think it is a ‘violation’…the people within the community feel violated I’m sure. It isn’t everyday that this happens in this community…whether or not it COULD happen…and regardless of whether or not it does happen in other communities. It sounds to me that the community felt safe (and why shouldn’t they) in their community and that security has been shaken. It’s like when your home is broken into…you feel violated. Of course you know that it COULD happen…it happens to other people all the time…but deep down you never think it’s going to happen TO YOU. When it does happen you feel violated for a long time until your sense of security is restored (and sometimes it is).
I understand what you are saying Katie and I’m not necessarily disagreeing with everything you are saying.
One more comment…I think it is a beautiful thing for people to feel safe in their community. Shouldn’t everyone?

6 | Porter

June 9th, 2007 at 9:29 am

sorry if my thoughts are all over the place…our coffee maker is on the fritz and i’m drinking instant……yuckgag.

7 | Claudette

June 9th, 2007 at 10:25 am

Yesterday I visited my neighbour for dinner, who has two kids. One is in preschool 5 streets over, and her mother walks her, pulling the younger brother behind her in the wagon, to and from the Pre-K every day.

On Tues she received a letter from the school saying that there was an incident. A 4th grader was approached by a stranger (described at a black man) and lured into his car. Luckily the child was able to run away, get home, and tell mom who promptly called the police.

This is happening in quiet, family-friendly neighbourhood in Toronto’s west end near Lake Ontario.

What is happening??

8 | andrea

June 9th, 2007 at 4:39 pm

I’m just reading all of your comments now… Katie, I didn’t intend for my post to imply that I’m shocked that this is happening in my middle/upper class white neighborhood… not at all. It’s just that it’s my neighborhood.
I think you would be shocked if it happened around the corner where you live/shop/work too.

This kind of violence is rare in Westboro but hostage-taking in general is rare anywhere in Ottawa.

It’s a sad surprise when it does happen. That’s all I was trying to say.

And yes, there is an issue with gentrification here, and it’s only getting worse. It’s not just families that are being pushed out, but family-run business too. Our bakery is closing at the end of the month because of crazy rent increases. This is not a good thing.

p.s. (No offense taken Katie!)

9 | katie

June 9th, 2007 at 5:44 pm

Yeah, Porter, I understand what you are saying, too. It is a violation if the people who live there feel violated. I hear ya. No offense intended.

Andrea, I didn’t feel that you were implying that you were shocked. My comment was more a reflection of the way the press spun it, not a reflection of what you wrote.

I think I know the bakery you mean, I signed the petition. It is sad. Make room for another chic boutique?

Anyhoo… no offense intended! Just putting my two rusty cents forward!

10 | a grrl with a blog

June 10th, 2007 at 8:25 pm

I was on my way home from work on Friday when I ran in to the police barricade. I had no idea what was happening, so I decided to make a short stop at the Superstore. On my way out a guy told me what had happened.

I was completely shocked. I am somewhat new to Westboro, but it is the most amazing neighborhood I have ever lived in. I love the family atmosphere, the way people smile and say hi to you as you walk by them walking their dogs, and how kids can run wild in the park. I just love the whole safe family neighborhood.

I was a little nervous walking home from Westfest on Friday night, but it quickly passed.

I completely understand how you feel. I just hope the store owner, and the man who did this are okay.

I really hope he is comfortable going back to his store and carrying on with business. I think that would be the best way for everyone to get past this.

11 | liss76

June 13th, 2007 at 9:53 pm

The thing that bothers me about the way the media treats these incidents is that they are always spun into a “people no longer feel safe in their community” sort of story.

I fail to see how a bizarre case like this–clearly, at this point, a case of either a personal grudge, mental stress/issues, or some combination of similar problems–has any bearing at all upon the degree of safety maintained in a community. This is nothing more than an unfortunate and dramatic isolated incident. It isn’t one of a rash of Westboro-area hostage takings, perpetuated by gang of surly antique dealers.

Honestly, even had this occured around the corner from my house, I’d still be more concerned about the effect of the “noon-hour hooligans” on lunch break from the local schoolyards upon the safety of my neighbourhood! (And, yes, I’m a grumpy 31-yr old who calls the cops on 12 yr olds causing mayhem in parking garages and parking lots.)