I was shocked and saddened to hear of the shooting incident that rocked the Britannia Woods community this past Wednesday leaving a 26-year-old man in hospital in critical condition. This incident comes only one day after a similar event occurred in a community housing in south Ottawa. Police say that these two incidents do not appear to be related. No arrests have been made in either incident, and no information about any possible suspects has been released. Police are appealing to any witnesses who might have information to please come forward.
On Thursday morning I met with the Executive Director of Britannia Woods House, Ottawa Community Housing, City staff and other partners and agencies to discuss how we can come together to support the residents of Britannia Woods.
Britannia Woods is a wonderful community, located only a few streets from where I live, filled with amazing young people and their families. The Britannia Woods Community House (BWCH) staff and volunteers offer impactful outreach and programs that provide engagement opportunities for all residents, enabling them to connect with each other and identify the community’s needs.
When an incident like the one this past Wednesday occurs, it hits not only the victims involved but everyone living in the community. This is an assault on their well-being. This is an assault on where they should feel safe – their home. Britannia Woods is a proud community that works hard to take care of each other, and I feel blessed to be able to participate in supporting them.
BWCH said it best when they Tweeted out “Unfortunately, there are pervasive problems rooted in systemic inequities and racism facing our city in many neighbourhoods that result in violence. It is the duty of each decision maker in our City to take each and every one of these incidents seriously and treat the deep-rooted issues with great care. BWCH has been and continues to do its part.”
We need to come together to help our communities thrive and reach full potential. To have equitable opportunities so that families can feel safe where they live, and youth can prosper. You can visit here to learn more about the Britannia Woods Community House and how to help support their programs.
