Fear and violence against women
City female politicians talk public safety, say city spaces need to be used
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 25, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Last week, Yellowknifer sat down with Wendy Bisaro, MLA for Frame Lake; Linda Bussey, Yellowknife city councillor; and Rebecca Alty, Yellowknife city councillor, to discuss the recent reports of violence against women.
How do you feel about your personal safety in the city?
Linda Bussey: I live downtown. It's part of my daily life. I don't run away from it. I make a point, I think, to walk downtown more than ever. I think I've always been aware of my surroundings. It hasn't changed, but I'm maybe more aware of what happens. I position myself to be safe.
Rebecca Alty: I live downtown, too. I go out on Friday and Saturday night. That does mean I end up walking alone. I do have my cellphone on me. I'm always aware of my surroundings, but Yellowknife is my home. I feel comfortable here.
Wendy Bisaro: I live here. I've been here 40 years. It's my home. I don't fear the downtown. I think of it in the way that it was when I first got here. I think I notice what's around me. The other day, I passed by somebody - it was somebody I didn't know and somebody that could be perceived as threatening - and I looked up and I smiled and he smiled back.
What are some public misconceptions, from your point of view, on safety in the city?
Bisaro: The perception is that the city is far worse than it is, part of that I have to lay at the feet of the media, who I think have sensationalized normal reports from the RCMP that have been changed and maybe been made worse.
Bussey: Unfortunately, people read headlines. People tend to think all these assaults were done by people downtown. We need to separate those two things. Mental health, homelessness - that's another subject.
Alty: Yes, we've seen these six incidences, but it's the violence behind closed doors that's a huge issue. I like to correct people when they say we've had six sex assaults - no, I think we've had 190.
If people aren't aware of what's going on, for example, at house parties, they're not talking about it. There's a number of unreported sex assaults between friends.
What can be done in Yellowknife to address public safety concerns?
Bussey: The more people that use downtown, you're going to populate the downtown, you're going to get a new downtown. We just need to address issues and not avoid them. The best thing to do is go down to one of those benches and just sit there. Everybody chats to everybody. I think fear ... I think that's what we need to stay away from.
Alty: I'm surprised that people are saying we should put our energy into increasing foot patrols downtown, as opposed to increasing our drug unit. Let's get the real guys, let's get the crack and the coke out of this town. People drinking downtown don't cause as many issues. But with crack downtown? That's when you get the issues. I would put more money into our drug units.
Bisaro: The biggest thing for me that has come from the (Oct. 3) town hall meeting is we're starting to have a conversation about how to deal with people that are the problems. Throwing people in the drunk tank doesn't address the problem. Take them somewhere that will address the problem.
What will you be doing to address public safety concerns in Yellowknife?
Bussey: I'm presenting a strategic plan - I chair the social issues committee - talking to every stakeholder. We're building a plan on what we've heard. There are short-term goals and long-term goals.
Bisaro: From a territorial perspective, we're looking at whole swathe of reports. Mental health, addictions, housing. My input would be to make those plans work in terms of my community.
Alty: For my perspective, I think continuing to look at housing in the city - we've definitely had a lot of development recently. I think a mixed use building, where there's commercial and subsidized housing, would be an asset to the city.
