A community mourns
T H E V I E W F R O M O T T AWA
The discovery of the body of 18-yearold Jennifer Teague has sent another shock through our city that reveals much about the community in which we live.
The overwhelming reaction of Ottawa residents to Ms. Teague’s murder, and that of Ardeth Wood two years ago, shows how close our community is and how concerned we are that such outrages could occur here.
As when Ms. Wood disappeared in 2003, Ottawans came together to help search for Ms. Teague. They took part in a candlelight vigil and offered prayers for her and her family. They did so in sympathy with a neighbour — a feeling we echo today for the friends and family of Ms. Teague.
Ottawa is, for the most part, a safe city and its reaction to the Wood and Teague cases reveals that residents want it to remain that way. But this latest murder, and the seven others that have been committed here this year, should strengthen our resolve to deal with the problems that do exist in our city. There is crime here. We should be vigilante in aiding police and finding its cause with the appropriate authorities.
We must also remain calm, but cautious. Calm because this is a city with few areas where people should feel unsafe, and cautious because the murder of these two young women remain unsolved. Indeed, it is the continuing uncertainty two years later over who killed Ardeth Wood that made Ms. Teague’s disappearance even more troubling. The idea that the two cases could be related added to the city’s anxiety as police continued to search for Ms. Teague.
When Ms. Wood disappeared in broad daylight while riding along a National Capital Commission bike path, it resulted in a review of safety measures along the NCC’s pathways and prompted Ottawans to review their own safety procedures. Likewise, Ms. Teague’s disappearance has prompted a citywide discussion of safety concerns for people who are out late at night, in particular those who work late shifts and then walk or take the bus home. A variety of safety measures are already being encouraged, including taking taxis when safety is an issue; using well-lit sidewalks at night; looking out for each other on public transit, on the street and in parking lots; getting rides from friends; and telling our children that no matter what kind of trouble they get into, they should contact their parents or police immediately for help.
Ottawa has always been a community of people who look out for each other As the city mourns the death of Jennifer Teague, it is coming together in sympathy with her family and friends and in resolve to end this violence.