Slain librarian remembered as kind, giving and warm
‘Little stealer of hearts’ opened home for many groups, including refugees
A Christian librarian killed in a downtown attack last week has “metaphorically and literally given her life to God and the community,” said her grieving family, as both a public memorial and a celebration of her life were held Friday in the city.
Rather than focusing on the brutal sexual assault and beating that led to her death, Elisabeth Salm’s family promised they’d celebrate and be inspired by how she lived.
“The core values of service, radical inclusiveness, compassion, and grace make the healing impact of the life of Elisabeth Christina Salm unstoppable,” reads her obituary published Thursday in this newspaper.
Salm, 59, a librarian at the Christian Science Reading Room — “her church’s open door to the community ” — was found bloodied, beaten unconscious and half-naked inside the office of the drop-in space at 141C Laurier Ave. W., near Elgin Street, around 12:30 p.m. on May 24. Salm was taken to hospital and kept on life support before succumbing to her injuries the next day.
Salm, who was known as “Djies” to her friends and family, was born in Hawkesbury in January 1959. She was the second of five children born to Jacob Salm, originally from Haarlem, the Netherlands, and Ange Willemstijn. Her father was a forestry engineer.
“Djies inherited from her father and mother a total love of the forest,” her family said.
The Salm family moved to Honey Gables, off River Road and along the Rideau River, in 1967. Elisabeth Salm attended Carleton University and graduated with a degree in geology. From there, she moved to northern Ontario to work.
“There she loved the people but observed serious problems with resource extraction. Taking without giving was antithetical to Djies’ being,” her obituary read.
In 1990, she married Lyle Young, a fellow Christian Science practitioner. Together, they embraced “a faith tradition that teaches that creation is spiritual, good, and to be lovingly cared for.”
Salm spoke many languages. Her husband’s favourite pet name for her was the “hartendiefje,” which means “little stealer of hearts” in Dutch.
“By her kindness, gentleness, warmth, and love she stole Lyle’s heart and of those of others who knew her,” her family said.
The couple opened their home to community meetings for many groups, from a choir executive to a neighbourhood watch to a group advocating for Indigenous issues.
On assignment from the Christian Science Church, they moved to Boston in 2004. They lived there full-time until 2007, then travelled back and forth from Ottawa to Boston from 2011 to 2017, when they settled back in the capital.
Salm worked with Syrian refugee sponsorship teams and her home was once again a welcoming space in the community, serving as the first place newcomer families would stay before moving on to permanent housing.
Women’s rights advocacy groups gathered on the steps at the Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street at noon on Friday, just a week after Salm was killed a half block away.
Condolences and prayers were extended to her family and friends, but the tone of the memorial was terse, with many of the speakers asking how many women have to die before change is enacted.
“Sixty-seven women (in Canada) have been killed by men this year alone. It’s June 1; how many more of us by the end of this year?” asked Laura Yaternick, who represented the group Because Wilno, a local grassroots organization that formed after three women were killed by one man in their homes near Wilno in 2015.
The group is now calling for political leaders to strengthen commitments to address gender-based violence.
Bandmates of Tyler Hikoalok, who has been charged with firstdegree murder in Salm’s death, were present at the memorial. Justin Holness, who runs the Tr1be Music Academy of which Hikoalok was a member, said that the group “hope(s) that he gets the help and takes full responsibility.
“Mental health is a generational problem that also needs to be considered. My grandmother is a residential school survivor, we’ve witnessed way too many suicides ourselves … we are here to show respect,” he said.
Salm’s friends and family gathered at a celebration of life Friday evening. They have also created the Elisabeth Christina Salm Fund at the Ottawa Community Foundation to continue her legacy of giving and love.
Salm’s husband spoke about her favourite bike after it was brought in as part of the celebration of life at the First Unitarian church on Cleary Avenue. He called it the “perfect symbol” for all Djies believe in.
“One, it was Dutch,” Young said. “Two, it quite literally runs on air and contributes to urban sustainability. Third, when you’re biking, you’re part of the community, not behind a windshield or sitting behind a closed door. Fourth, it’s inexpensive. Fifth it’s total freedom and fun. We biked most days, and took trips in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta and the Netherlands.
“I don’t claim to know specifically s Djies is doing right now. But believe me, I do know this: In some way, in some form she is biking, on a bicycle whiter than this one. And one last point: She is going fast.”