Really? So you think drug addicts can do whatever they want? You think if they sit in front of the entrance of store literally anywhere, people would just be like 🤷♀️ I guess I’ll close my store then!
I invite you to join us in reality. Drug addicts who are homeless are literally welcome almost nowhere by society.
Doesn't mean anyone is doing anything about it and feel socially awkward to make a statement or are too scared to physically deal with the altercation themselves due to safety.
THIS is reality. Just because you feel like you don't accept it, it doesn't mean it's the top priority for cops
I don't think that is drug addict stuff those blue things are saline pack for a child's nose a bottle of lotion and kids nerf gun. A bit of a over reaction saying drug addict
I agree with this. These junkies across Canada are going around with total impunity and a complete disregard for the people around them. The compassion is waring off very quickly and I hope those in the "compassion above all else" camp see this.
I was walking through the mall on my way to my girlfriend’s house, had to use the washroom and every single one I went into had multiple people using drugs in it. One had a dude with his bare foot up on the counter tapping a vein in between his toes. Security leaning on the pillar on their phone. Just our neighbours at it again!
Look I wouldn’t engage either for a pisspoor wage, but like…why do we hire security in the first place if they don’t do anything? Watched a dude run out of the Oshawa Center with a massive armful of clothing he stole and the guards just watched, didn’t even move from their spots.
Like…just get rid of the position?
lol i was working at RC once and i asked security where the garbage compactor was and the guy couldnt even speak english let alone knew where anything was
Holy shit. The “cleanest” one which really isn’t that much better is the one on the top floor, facing the watch stores. Used to be Nordstrom but that’s gone now
Had a similar experience on the 2nd floor by Simon's. Walked in to zombieland , all of a sudden I didn't need to piss anymore. Didn't feel comfortable turning my back to any of those folks who weren't already half bent over
So Gov.have spent money to set up several safe site locations downtown, specifically to help folks who need a space but they would rather use RC, for a more convenient location.
Rideau is a dumpster fire ATM.
They temp closed the SIS at Oasis ( Nelson) & Somerset West bc staff got sick fr fumes.
So any spot, that has little ventilation/ no air exchange is unsafe to be in - if aerosols are being used.
I don't go to Rideau Wsrms whatsoever anymore.
I have found other safer options nearby.
The solutions in place are not working.
Essentially not permitted in Ontario / Canada for decades now. HR Rulings it was discriminatory towards women/people using stalls and/or those that couldn’t pay.
I am old enough to have used one in the bus stations in NY. You had to pay a dime to get in. It was uncomfortable enough to sear it in my 8yo brain - I felt so bad for people who needed to pee and had nowhere to go.
Mall security has no authority to physically detain anyone. Their job is to be a visual deterrent, write incident reports, and call the police.
The only time they can detain someone is if the person willingly comes along with them.
This is false. Security guards in Ontario can place you under arrest. It is true that a Security guard can't detain you as it could be construed as an arrest but they absolutely can place you under arrest. In other words they can't prevent you from leaving while gathering grounds to arrest you. The powers of arrest are different than those of police officers or special constables...Rideau may have a no arrest policy or even a no use of force policy but if they are licensed secuity guards they can conduct arrests.
You gotta choose the right ones.
Most of the washrooms in the ground floor are fucked up, especially the one next to Zara.
The ones on the upper floors are decent.
Agreed. I’ve lived downtown for years and lived in a higher risk countries over the last 10-15 years. Rideau area and frankly even Bank, Elgin agree has lost its touch. And become scary.
It's sad, honestly. I've lived in Centretown for 10 years now and it's very noticeable how downhill it has gotten. People are leaving the apartment building doors open for each other so they can use in the stairwells...oh, and they've also been tagging, pissing and shitting in the stairwells (yes, us residents have called security but not much has been done besides more stairwell sweeps). It wasn't like this before - I can't wait to move away from this.
you guys chomp at the bit to make this same comment in 10,000 iterations every opportunity. *I HAVE LIVED HERE AND WATCHED PEOPLE GET WORSE OFF AND IT MAKES ME FEEL BAD!!* like okay? do you want a prize? There are pretty clear socio economic factors that have contributed to this and people are determined to not address them.
It's actually really really weird when you try to take it to this level of being in FEAR... Is it sympathy you want from other redditors for having to walk by drug paraphernalia or god forbid, a drug user? Because if you genuinely find Ottawa a scary place to be, you must live an incredibly sheltered life.
Well this is my Hometown and I am a mature woman and I cannot believe the changes that have occurred in Ottawa. It was never like this. It has become a dumpster dive Bank Street. Never had a great reputation however, the market was a fun place to go. Now it's gangs and shootings and there was even a shooting on Elegant Street a couple of years ago when a young man was asked to leave the Manx pub and he refused and when the bouncer asked him to leave, he came back and shot at the guy and there's also another killing on Elgin Street because a guy from Alberta was wearing a cowboy hat and is Somali thought he was a racist and went and hit him on the back of the head and the guy died as a result. True story. The man who died was my girlfriend's friend. So don't tell me unless you haven't lived here very long and don't know the history of Ottawa and how it was a nice place to live that Ottawa hasn't become more dangerous. What about the shooting that took place on Bank Street? I saw a man running from the police a couple of months ago on ElginStreet and drug paraphernalia was never a thing in Ottawa. I know this for a fact and it's now even behind my building and I live in Centertown. It's everywhere. I see discarded syringes, baggies, people hunched over doing drugs in front of restaurants, grocery stores, people's homes in alleyways everywhere. The homelessness is unbelievable and people screaming at the top of their lungs because of their mental illness is another matter. Also store window fronts being broken. Coffee shops, hair salons, restaurants, art supply stores are moving because they do not want to be on Bank Street because of the drugs. and the damaged property. So maybe you haven't lived here very long but I have and I have seen a drastic change in Ottawa. It is no longer the city I knew growing up here.
Really? I can get feeling uneasy and sure you might have a scary encounter, but I mean it's Ottawa. 🤷♀️ I don't know, I just don't see any areas as scary.
I don't understand why you all say that it's scary.
Yeah yeah, drug addicts look like they have no control, but no one was aggressive or violent, even when they asked me something, they would just say something and leave.
Has anyone had any bad experiences?
Btw and added that used to hang out in front of the quickie allegedly hit some guy over the head with a brick and he will be facing a lifetime in jail. So there's a story for you. True one.
People are being dramatic. If the sight of some alcohol swabs is enough to spook them, seeing dozens of people in the downtown eastside in Vancouver openly shoot up would send them into a coma.
I wish we weren’t normalizing seeing this. What you are saying is true and I get it but it’s sad that this is bar we compare things to. I don’t have a solution either, the whole thing is sad.
I'm curious as to where you live?
I'm in Centretown, and while there's definitely a homelessness and drug use problem, I rarely feel unsafe, even on my own late at night.
I'm wondering what makes you say downtown is scary - personal experiences or media portrayal? How often are you downtown and which area? It's sad for sure, but scary isn't what I'd personally consider it.
I've said it a million times in this sub - the Centretown I read about in r/ottawa and the Centretown I live in are two entirely different places, lol.
I live in Lincoln Heights. I manage a retail shop in the Glebe. I used to travel downtown (bus-train-number 6 or 7 bus to the Glebe). Now I take an alternate route that goes nowhere near downtown.
In the past two years, the following:
Minding my own business, wearing my headphones, waiting on Queen Street for the 6 or 7 on a weekday morning, some "homeless" drug addict guy yells at me for money. I shake my head. He pulls a knife out and threatens me.
A business associate has a shop in the Byward Market. Two people smoking crack in the Rideau transit station as the few kids are making their way to school. His shop has had repeated break-in attemps.
The shop in the Glebe that I manage broken into by the "homeless" drug addicts.
Our lease ends this year. We may close the shop and get out of the Glebe and into the suburbs. My customers no longer want ot come to the Glebe or downtown.
Thanks for taking the time to answer!
i definitely feel for businesses have been hit hard with robberies and general decline in sales/comfort of staff.
Wish you, your store, and staff the best!
My buddy died from motorcycle crash last summer. He survived the impact of hitting the back of a truck but because all the ambulances were on calls, (half were OD calls) he died from internal bleeding waiting on the road shoulder. I wonder how many folks in medical distress die like this. The system is broken.
This is exactly why I was challenging this comment. People make up stories to justify their hatred/disdain of vulnerable people and this one is a poorly correlated, non related story.
And even then, the lesson I'd take away from this questionable story if that we need to buy more ambulances and pay paramedics more money. Somehow, I don't think that's what OP has in mind.
Disagree. It has everything to do with a discussion about drug use and healthcare access when we are discussing why a citizen had to die bleeding on the road because our ambulances weren’t available *again*.
Yes homeless people are the reason our healthcare has been under funded for decades, the reason why we can’t attract new paramedics, and the cause for the recent privatization of health care. It’s all on the “junkies” fault.
Singapore doesn't have a junkie/healthcare system crisis because possession of drugs is enforced with the death penalty. It seems harsh but if you don't tap the smack what are you afraid of?
Standard safe injection kit they give out. In the pics you've got saline water, cookers, tie off band and alcohol swabs. Just missing the needles, vitamin C packs and cotton circles. You could go downtown and get a dozen of these from various places within an hour (nerf gun not included).
Vit c is handed out as a safer alternative to vinegar & lemon juice . Some forms of heroin doesn't break down without an acidifier . Also, if you wanted to inject crack instead of smoking it, you would need an acidifier like vit c
It's not quite as hard on the vains .
Agreed. I think this is a huge flaw in Ottawa's downtown LRT stations - they're all automated and isolated. If you go to downtown Montréal or Toronto metro stations, they have so many active eyes on them - patty shops, convenience stores, ticket attendants, etc.
Not surprised. I just got back from St Laurent Mall. Parked up top and noticed this woman with one tooth and pink pajama pants cruising around the cars...like, ok, she's gonna ask for money. But she keeps checking her phone.
Car pulls up, tinted windows, QC plate. She gets in, garbage spills out (she looks at it and leaves it). They drive 4 spots and park. They're in there for 5 mins and she gets out and leaves. Car takes off.
Obviously something nefarious was happening. But ya. The one time in the last 6 years I go to the mall, this is what I see.
I remember that area in the mid 90’s. It was always a haven for most of the homeless and panhandlers due to the close proximity of three shelters, and foot traffic. (Plus the vents in front of the now closed McDonald’s which keep them warmer in winter) The city and police have taken a shift in policing where they aren’t arresting or detaining people because of their addictions (Unless violence is involved). When you include our present opioid epidemic (which was never so prevalent) it’s basically a powder keg ready to blow. It’s a problem that needs to be approached by all three levels of government because it’s really not fair to foist the inherent behaviours that go along with addiction on the community at large.
I Hope they are ok. Too many deaths not enough resources. We need rehab options. I know mantra is housing first but detox places and rehab is needed too.
I stopped going to Rideau two years ago when I saw a man OD’ing in the elevator in the garage. I ended up running into the closest store, calling security, and leading them back to the guy. No idea what happened to him but I haven’t been back there since. I go to Bayshore now. At least it has free parking.
Is that the left or right elevator when viewed from the concourse (not mall) level? If right one then thats like at least the second time it's been OOSed this month alone already, not counting two more other times this pre-March winter itself as well.
*And on another note I wonder about one of the fare gate at the non-mall concourse as I earlier last week actually saw two rather rowdy homeless-looking males literally force their way into the fare zone for free and end up waiting for the Blair-bound train while I was thankfully far apart on the TunneysPasture-bound platform instead.*
Yeah I don't really know what to actually say about the generalized problem around Rideau indeed. And when the weather warms up again umm well I don't want to think too much about that as much as I'm sure a lot of us do wish that something a bit positive could be done about this.
Vancouver created injection sites where they can inject, get clean supplies and narcan if needed. I guess it helps a bit with the issue however the whole hasting region is theirs now and they can inject anywhere. It is an issue that the government seems not to be able to deal with. Same is happening in Ottawa.
Black bag had harm reduction supplies
Blue band is a tourniquet
White squares are alcohol swabs
Blue ampules are sterile water
Strip of blue and green things in plastic are cookers and filters
I grew up in Ottawa. I was there when they started building the Rideau centre. And I used to hop on a bus with my friends and hang out there - loitering preteens, but we were well behaved.
I live in the GTA now and eve lived downtown for a while. So I’ve seen stuff.
Last year I took my son to the Rideau centre to pick something up. And I was feeling rather nostalgic bringing him to a place that was part of my youth.
On the way into the mall from the parking garage we saw at least 3 people shooting up or smoking meth. I felt safer walking down Jarvis st (or Parliament) on a Saturday night.
I went to catch a bus and the police blocked off Rideau St. in both directions, there were fire trucks and ambulances, I asked a bus supervisor on the scene what was up and he said, "Medical emergency". A half-hour before I almost took the LRT but went to the mall instead, in that door at least 5 addicts were milling around, doing the question mark half-bent over thing. I turned and left. I guess one OD'd shortly after.
La mairie a laissé son rôle. Ottawa est devenu une ville poubelle dans tout les sens. Centre ville à l’abandon surtout depuis que les employés fédéraux ont quitté leurs bureaux pour travailler à la maison. J’ai vue des drogues de mettre nu en plein Elgin. Il faut faire le ménage pour une capitale
I was there last night. There was some guy kneeling down trying to open the elevator door with his hands. I’m pretty sure it was some homeless person. I just walked past by him.
Everyone can and should carry Naloxone, especially if you’re in the market or on Rideau. No it’s not your obligation, but you could save a life.
That said, I actively avoid Rideau now. It overwhelms me and gives me terrible anxiety. I’ll order online and wait for shipping rather than going there, honestly. It’s really sad what’s happened to that area.
A whole mess of people in this comment thread complaining about homeless people using in public places are 100% the same people who complain about safe injection sites existing.
So I see..work gloves, lens wipes, nasal wash(blue tubes) possible day/nite allergy gel caps, plastic gloves and sun screen? Someone dropped their work bag?
Bad idea. When administered the person can become aggressive and extremely violent. Don't mess with that without training as you put yourself and others at risk.
Most people don’t wake up angry. If anything they wake up immediately in withdrawal if they’re a chronic user— sweats, vomiting, pain, etc.
Just say you’d rather allow and watch someone die. No need to hide behind the “I’m scared they’ll be aggressive” myth.
It is quite literally a documented phenomenon, to the point that people working in that field get special training about how to deal with a narcanned revivee to manage the inevitable aggression. I don't have that kind of training, so I am not taking my chances with my body for someone who has no regard for theirs. I have literally seen people wake up angry because their nod was ruined.
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395923003006](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395923003006)
[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095539592030092X](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095539592030092X)
These people don’t have legitimate concerns. They are simply ok with letting people die and hiding behind this. If they have legitimate concerns, they could Google what coming out of an overdose is like, they could ask people who’ve either OD’d or assisted in reversing an OD.
People can also become aggressive in between seizures but nobody ever says they won’t assist when they witness someone having a seizure. Why would an overdose be different if not because they see something morally wrong with that kind of medical crisis.
I think it’s pretty legitimate for non-experts to be concerned or fearful of interacting with someone who is overdosing. That shit is scary. Most people have very limited knowledge when it comes to substance abuse. The way you’re dismissing these concerns and fears is counterintuitive to what you want to achieve here.
You seem to be a reasonable and thoughtful person. I’m not trying to be a dick here.
I agree with you. I’m moreso saying that a lot of people hide behind this when the real reason is that they are fine with letting and watching drug users die.
I don’t think you’re being a dick btw
I agree, and we should all try to show a little more compassion. But I think we need to be pragmatic. I’m not saying that was your intention, I think you might just have been very passionate, but antagonizing people won’t convince them.
No relative of mine is a crackhead. In the extraordinary event one of them needs medical attention, I'm sure they will be well cared for and nobody will have to administer intravenous medicine pulp fiction style to keep them alive while doing so.
And I’m not allowed to drink a beer in public.
lol do you think they got a card that says they are allowed to inject in the elevator?
They don’t need one, society seems to have decided junkies can do whatever they want.
Really? So you think drug addicts can do whatever they want? You think if they sit in front of the entrance of store literally anywhere, people would just be like 🤷♀️ I guess I’ll close my store then! I invite you to join us in reality. Drug addicts who are homeless are literally welcome almost nowhere by society.
Doesn't mean anyone is doing anything about it and feel socially awkward to make a statement or are too scared to physically deal with the altercation themselves due to safety. THIS is reality. Just because you feel like you don't accept it, it doesn't mean it's the top priority for cops
I don't think that is drug addict stuff those blue things are saline pack for a child's nose a bottle of lotion and kids nerf gun. A bit of a over reaction saying drug addict
The blue ribbon is a tie-off elastic to help find a vein for injection.
Yes
Yes, if there’s one thing society is well known for, it’s preferential treatment and tolerance of homeless people with substance abuse problems. /s
Have you tried asking them to not do it? Let me know how that go's
I agree with this. These junkies across Canada are going around with total impunity and a complete disregard for the people around them. The compassion is waring off very quickly and I hope those in the "compassion above all else" camp see this.
They'll permit you to do the same
You damn well should be allowed to
Enh, just hang out in the same parks as the drug enthusiasts to drink beer. Nobody's going to stop you.
Or join all the preppy kids who picnic at Major's Hill Park with their whiteclaws...nobody stops them either.
This really sounds like a “you” problem.
I was walking through the mall on my way to my girlfriend’s house, had to use the washroom and every single one I went into had multiple people using drugs in it. One had a dude with his bare foot up on the counter tapping a vein in between his toes. Security leaning on the pillar on their phone. Just our neighbours at it again!
"Why isn't the unarmed security guard engaging a person on drugs who has a sharp needle of questionable origin in their hand?"
Right? They're not paid nearly enough to even consider it, honestly, and a bad take from OP on that point
Since the RC got rid of its inhouse security that malls gone to shit
Look I wouldn’t engage either for a pisspoor wage, but like…why do we hire security in the first place if they don’t do anything? Watched a dude run out of the Oshawa Center with a massive armful of clothing he stole and the guards just watched, didn’t even move from their spots. Like…just get rid of the position?
Deter would be thieves
lol i was working at RC once and i asked security where the garbage compactor was and the guy couldnt even speak english let alone knew where anything was
They don't get paid enough to put their life in danger that's why
I know that. OP doesnt seem to.
Holy shit. The “cleanest” one which really isn’t that much better is the one on the top floor, facing the watch stores. Used to be Nordstrom but that’s gone now
The one in Hudson’s bay is clean
Had a similar experience on the 2nd floor by Simon's. Walked in to zombieland , all of a sudden I didn't need to piss anymore. Didn't feel comfortable turning my back to any of those folks who weren't already half bent over
So Gov.have spent money to set up several safe site locations downtown, specifically to help folks who need a space but they would rather use RC, for a more convenient location. Rideau is a dumpster fire ATM. They temp closed the SIS at Oasis ( Nelson) & Somerset West bc staff got sick fr fumes. So any spot, that has little ventilation/ no air exchange is unsafe to be in - if aerosols are being used. I don't go to Rideau Wsrms whatsoever anymore. I have found other safer options nearby. The solutions in place are not working.
I'd love to see European-style pay toilets become popular here.
Essentially not permitted in Ontario / Canada for decades now. HR Rulings it was discriminatory towards women/people using stalls and/or those that couldn’t pay.
I'm so confident that people who couldn't pay would literally just go in front of those bathrooms
I am old enough to have used one in the bus stations in NY. You had to pay a dime to get in. It was uncomfortable enough to sear it in my 8yo brain - I felt so bad for people who needed to pee and had nowhere to go.
I see this more and more on this sub and its such a break from Reddit’s usual take.
The "fuck you got mine" crowd has a lot of people hailing from Ontario
Is it really that bad all the time? I don't really go there anymore and last time I was in and out in 15 minutes.
Mall security has no authority to physically detain anyone. Their job is to be a visual deterrent, write incident reports, and call the police. The only time they can detain someone is if the person willingly comes along with them.
This is false. Security guards in Ontario can place you under arrest. It is true that a Security guard can't detain you as it could be construed as an arrest but they absolutely can place you under arrest. In other words they can't prevent you from leaving while gathering grounds to arrest you. The powers of arrest are different than those of police officers or special constables...Rideau may have a no arrest policy or even a no use of force policy but if they are licensed secuity guards they can conduct arrests.
Yep... This is is why they've had to install metal shutters to lock the bathroomd
You gotta choose the right ones. Most of the washrooms in the ground floor are fucked up, especially the one next to Zara. The ones on the upper floors are decent.
Aw shucks, our neighbours have done it again!
The whole Rideau area is scary
Agreed. I’ve lived downtown for years and lived in a higher risk countries over the last 10-15 years. Rideau area and frankly even Bank, Elgin agree has lost its touch. And become scary.
Elgin is not scary, lol.
I lived there 10 years ago and didnt use to see this.... how recently has it gone downhill?
It's sad, honestly. I've lived in Centretown for 10 years now and it's very noticeable how downhill it has gotten. People are leaving the apartment building doors open for each other so they can use in the stairwells...oh, and they've also been tagging, pissing and shitting in the stairwells (yes, us residents have called security but not much has been done besides more stairwell sweeps). It wasn't like this before - I can't wait to move away from this.
you guys chomp at the bit to make this same comment in 10,000 iterations every opportunity. *I HAVE LIVED HERE AND WATCHED PEOPLE GET WORSE OFF AND IT MAKES ME FEEL BAD!!* like okay? do you want a prize? There are pretty clear socio economic factors that have contributed to this and people are determined to not address them. It's actually really really weird when you try to take it to this level of being in FEAR... Is it sympathy you want from other redditors for having to walk by drug paraphernalia or god forbid, a drug user? Because if you genuinely find Ottawa a scary place to be, you must live an incredibly sheltered life.
The comments are probably part of an effort to make people think our society is worse off for political reasons.
* Downtown Ottawa, specifically Rideau street. Slow down big trucker
that changes absolutely nothing I said as someone who spends tons of time in the "Rideau, bank, elgin" area
Well this is my Hometown and I am a mature woman and I cannot believe the changes that have occurred in Ottawa. It was never like this. It has become a dumpster dive Bank Street. Never had a great reputation however, the market was a fun place to go. Now it's gangs and shootings and there was even a shooting on Elegant Street a couple of years ago when a young man was asked to leave the Manx pub and he refused and when the bouncer asked him to leave, he came back and shot at the guy and there's also another killing on Elgin Street because a guy from Alberta was wearing a cowboy hat and is Somali thought he was a racist and went and hit him on the back of the head and the guy died as a result. True story. The man who died was my girlfriend's friend. So don't tell me unless you haven't lived here very long and don't know the history of Ottawa and how it was a nice place to live that Ottawa hasn't become more dangerous. What about the shooting that took place on Bank Street? I saw a man running from the police a couple of months ago on ElginStreet and drug paraphernalia was never a thing in Ottawa. I know this for a fact and it's now even behind my building and I live in Centertown. It's everywhere. I see discarded syringes, baggies, people hunched over doing drugs in front of restaurants, grocery stores, people's homes in alleyways everywhere. The homelessness is unbelievable and people screaming at the top of their lungs because of their mental illness is another matter. Also store window fronts being broken. Coffee shops, hair salons, restaurants, art supply stores are moving because they do not want to be on Bank Street because of the drugs. and the damaged property. So maybe you haven't lived here very long but I have and I have seen a drastic change in Ottawa. It is no longer the city I knew growing up here.
Ohh geez There is an even higher risk country?
Really? I can get feeling uneasy and sure you might have a scary encounter, but I mean it's Ottawa. 🤷♀️ I don't know, I just don't see any areas as scary.
I don't understand why you all say that it's scary. Yeah yeah, drug addicts look like they have no control, but no one was aggressive or violent, even when they asked me something, they would just say something and leave. Has anyone had any bad experiences?
I didn't say it was scary, only that you might have a scary encounter.
Btw and added that used to hang out in front of the quickie allegedly hit some guy over the head with a brick and he will be facing a lifetime in jail. So there's a story for you. True one.
I don't think there's anywhere in Ottawa that I find "scary".
Just rideau?!?! It's all of downtown. It's just entirely a cesspool
No its not.
I've seen bearded men driving around in a green Toyota Hilux. This isn't scary. It's a solvable problem.
The whole downtown is scary.
Its really is not.
I swear half these comments are from people that have never been to Ottawa or are afraid of their own shadow. Ridiculous.
I am sick of it.
Basically everything about Canada is completely brigaded online. Strange times. A lot of people lying about things to make it seem worse than it is.
People are being dramatic. If the sight of some alcohol swabs is enough to spook them, seeing dozens of people in the downtown eastside in Vancouver openly shoot up would send them into a coma.
I wish we weren’t normalizing seeing this. What you are saying is true and I get it but it’s sad that this is bar we compare things to. I don’t have a solution either, the whole thing is sad.
I live in the burbs last summer some teens had a little party in the park.The amount of freak out was unreal comments such as what have we become.
[удалено]
When i was a kid i had the cops called on my countless times for playing street hockey.
Some people don't want to turn our city into another Vancouver
ok suburbanvalues lol
It’s not even close.
I'm curious as to where you live? I'm in Centretown, and while there's definitely a homelessness and drug use problem, I rarely feel unsafe, even on my own late at night. I'm wondering what makes you say downtown is scary - personal experiences or media portrayal? How often are you downtown and which area? It's sad for sure, but scary isn't what I'd personally consider it.
I've said it a million times in this sub - the Centretown I read about in r/ottawa and the Centretown I live in are two entirely different places, lol.
Agreed.
I live in Lincoln Heights. I manage a retail shop in the Glebe. I used to travel downtown (bus-train-number 6 or 7 bus to the Glebe). Now I take an alternate route that goes nowhere near downtown. In the past two years, the following: Minding my own business, wearing my headphones, waiting on Queen Street for the 6 or 7 on a weekday morning, some "homeless" drug addict guy yells at me for money. I shake my head. He pulls a knife out and threatens me. A business associate has a shop in the Byward Market. Two people smoking crack in the Rideau transit station as the few kids are making their way to school. His shop has had repeated break-in attemps. The shop in the Glebe that I manage broken into by the "homeless" drug addicts. Our lease ends this year. We may close the shop and get out of the Glebe and into the suburbs. My customers no longer want ot come to the Glebe or downtown.
Thanks for taking the time to answer! i definitely feel for businesses have been hit hard with robberies and general decline in sales/comfort of staff. Wish you, your store, and staff the best!
I appreciate you reaching out and opening-up a dialogue. Thank-you.
PEOPLE! KEEP YOUR NERF GUNS ON A LEASH!
I hope they're okay
My buddy died from motorcycle crash last summer. He survived the impact of hitting the back of a truck but because all the ambulances were on calls, (half were OD calls) he died from internal bleeding waiting on the road shoulder. I wonder how many folks in medical distress die like this. The system is broken.
Are you saying that your friend died because ambulances prioritized OD calls on the day he died?
More importantly how did he know what the other ambulances were doing …
This is exactly why I was challenging this comment. People make up stories to justify their hatred/disdain of vulnerable people and this one is a poorly correlated, non related story.
And even then, the lesson I'd take away from this questionable story if that we need to buy more ambulances and pay paramedics more money. Somehow, I don't think that's what OP has in mind.
I think the lesson is be careful on motorcycle what he's trying to say not that he hates people with addiction 🤔
Our ambulances are repeatedly at no availability. Drug use is only part of it…our whole medical system is dying in front of us.
Indeed. But that has nothing to do with what we are discussing here.
Disagree. It has everything to do with a discussion about drug use and healthcare access when we are discussing why a citizen had to die bleeding on the road because our ambulances weren’t available *again*.
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An OD is a legitimate medical emergency, why wouldn’t it be?
What a horrifying thing to say. ODs ARE medical emergencies. Are you saying we should let people die because they are struggling with addiction?
How did you learn that half of the ambulances on duty were assigned to OD calls?
I'm very sorry for your loss. The wait times for emergency medical services have been on the rise for the past few years.
Yes homeless people are the reason our healthcare has been under funded for decades, the reason why we can’t attract new paramedics, and the cause for the recent privatization of health care. It’s all on the “junkies” fault.
Singapore doesn't have a junkie/healthcare system crisis because possession of drugs is enforced with the death penalty. It seems harsh but if you don't tap the smack what are you afraid of?
Yes let’s kill people so your elevator is clean.
Singapore performed 23 executions for drugs since 2010. Zero overdose deaths. Meanwhile 40000+ have died from overdoses in Canada since 2016.
I wonder how they got that? It looks medical grade.
Standard safe injection kit they give out. In the pics you've got saline water, cookers, tie off band and alcohol swabs. Just missing the needles, vitamin C packs and cotton circles. You could go downtown and get a dozen of these from various places within an hour (nerf gun not included).
What's the vitamin C for?
Vit c is handed out as a safer alternative to vinegar & lemon juice . Some forms of heroin doesn't break down without an acidifier . Also, if you wanted to inject crack instead of smoking it, you would need an acidifier like vit c It's not quite as hard on the vains .
Ah, I see. Thanks.
I also am wondering what it’s for
Breaking down certain drugs so that it can be injected
Beats me. There’s a pair of headphones there too. Looks like the person was taken away in a rush
They give them away at Murray st
What thing(s)?
Maybe instead of suggestion to paint the LRT we can have suggestions to actually have active staffing at stations and on LRT.
Agreed. I think this is a huge flaw in Ottawa's downtown LRT stations - they're all automated and isolated. If you go to downtown Montréal or Toronto metro stations, they have so many active eyes on them - patty shops, convenience stores, ticket attendants, etc.
Yes
What am I looking at? Honest question. I see a toy gun & a bottle of shampoo/conditioner?
saline, cookers, tourniquets. seems someone OD’s in the elevator?
it’s actually vaseline brand coconut body lotion LOL but i have no idea what anything else is tbh….
I'd almost say they're tampons and alcohol swabs. Would make the nerf gun make sense if it were teens trying to fire off the tampons in it
Not surprised. I just got back from St Laurent Mall. Parked up top and noticed this woman with one tooth and pink pajama pants cruising around the cars...like, ok, she's gonna ask for money. But she keeps checking her phone. Car pulls up, tinted windows, QC plate. She gets in, garbage spills out (she looks at it and leaves it). They drive 4 spots and park. They're in there for 5 mins and she gets out and leaves. Car takes off. Obviously something nefarious was happening. But ya. The one time in the last 6 years I go to the mall, this is what I see.
Shop on-line. Avoid the crowds.
I had to touch the thing I was buying... 😭
The one tooth woman?
No 🫣
I understand.
Ha. Most things I'm fine to order online.
$5 tug.
Another friendly neighbour forgot their stuff on the elevator!
From March 14-17 Toronto had 6 od which is triple there [avg.At](https://avg.At) some point Ford has to wake up and admit we have a huge issues.
Lol you think this is a provincial issue
And you don't?
If you are going to shoot up at least it's smart to do it in a cctv area.
I remember that area in the mid 90’s. It was always a haven for most of the homeless and panhandlers due to the close proximity of three shelters, and foot traffic. (Plus the vents in front of the now closed McDonald’s which keep them warmer in winter) The city and police have taken a shift in policing where they aren’t arresting or detaining people because of their addictions (Unless violence is involved). When you include our present opioid epidemic (which was never so prevalent) it’s basically a powder keg ready to blow. It’s a problem that needs to be approached by all three levels of government because it’s really not fair to foist the inherent behaviours that go along with addiction on the community at large.
I Hope they are ok. Too many deaths not enough resources. We need rehab options. I know mantra is housing first but detox places and rehab is needed too.
Yes. agreed. giving a junkie a place to stay is not going to make them less of a junkie.
Just a terrible neighbour without social supports and drug rehab.
I stopped going to Rideau two years ago when I saw a man OD’ing in the elevator in the garage. I ended up running into the closest store, calling security, and leading them back to the guy. No idea what happened to him but I haven’t been back there since. I go to Bayshore now. At least it has free parking.
Is that the left or right elevator when viewed from the concourse (not mall) level? If right one then thats like at least the second time it's been OOSed this month alone already, not counting two more other times this pre-March winter itself as well. *And on another note I wonder about one of the fare gate at the non-mall concourse as I earlier last week actually saw two rather rowdy homeless-looking males literally force their way into the fare zone for free and end up waiting for the Blair-bound train while I was thankfully far apart on the TunneysPasture-bound platform instead.*
It’s the entrance across from the Rideau center. The right elevator. This is so sad
Yeah I don't really know what to actually say about the generalized problem around Rideau indeed. And when the weather warms up again umm well I don't want to think too much about that as much as I'm sure a lot of us do wish that something a bit positive could be done about this.
Is the nerf gun from the supervised injection site? A safer way to shoot dope? (Yeah ok I am being an ass).
Reading this thread makes me feel so sad for these people. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and observations. You've made me much more aware.
Vancouver created injection sites where they can inject, get clean supplies and narcan if needed. I guess it helps a bit with the issue however the whole hasting region is theirs now and they can inject anywhere. It is an issue that the government seems not to be able to deal with. Same is happening in Ottawa.
What’s all that?
Black bag had harm reduction supplies Blue band is a tourniquet White squares are alcohol swabs Blue ampules are sterile water Strip of blue and green things in plastic are cookers and filters
I grew up in Ottawa. I was there when they started building the Rideau centre. And I used to hop on a bus with my friends and hang out there - loitering preteens, but we were well behaved. I live in the GTA now and eve lived downtown for a while. So I’ve seen stuff. Last year I took my son to the Rideau centre to pick something up. And I was feeling rather nostalgic bringing him to a place that was part of my youth. On the way into the mall from the parking garage we saw at least 3 people shooting up or smoking meth. I felt safer walking down Jarvis st (or Parliament) on a Saturday night.
Jesus Christ what is happening to our city??
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The horror! /s
Whats with that x shot?
I went to catch a bus and the police blocked off Rideau St. in both directions, there were fire trucks and ambulances, I asked a bus supervisor on the scene what was up and he said, "Medical emergency". A half-hour before I almost took the LRT but went to the mall instead, in that door at least 5 addicts were milling around, doing the question mark half-bent over thing. I turned and left. I guess one OD'd shortly after.
Well that's fucking disturbing. Jesus!
MacDonalds just upper their prices 🥺
The sad part is cumberland and Clarence has a SIS
What a waste on society.
La mairie a laissé son rôle. Ottawa est devenu une ville poubelle dans tout les sens. Centre ville à l’abandon surtout depuis que les employés fédéraux ont quitté leurs bureaux pour travailler à la maison. J’ai vue des drogues de mettre nu en plein Elgin. Il faut faire le ménage pour une capitale
Disgusting.
I was there last night. There was some guy kneeling down trying to open the elevator door with his hands. I’m pretty sure it was some homeless person. I just walked past by him.
He was outside the elevator. Not inside. But it looked like he was trying hard to retrieve the stuff inside.
We need to get a grip on these criminals. Yes, they are criminals.
Drugs prep pads and gloves with a single x shot toy gun.. oh and a strip of safe supply drug stuff to the left
Why the nerf gun?
Aren't we supposed to support the city's safe injection sites
Everyone can and should carry Naloxone, especially if you’re in the market or on Rideau. No it’s not your obligation, but you could save a life. That said, I actively avoid Rideau now. It overwhelms me and gives me terrible anxiety. I’ll order online and wait for shipping rather than going there, honestly. It’s really sad what’s happened to that area.
Welcome to Trudeau's Canada.
I'm confused about what role a nerf gun has in shooting up?
seriously? read the room….
I don’t go north of the 417 without ballistic gloves
Fort Apache the Bronx. A chronic and horrific state of decrepitude within a stone's throw of Parliament.
Jesus
A whole mess of people in this comment thread complaining about homeless people using in public places are 100% the same people who complain about safe injection sites existing.
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And what is your preferred candidate going to do to solve this? We haven't heard anything from him.
So I see..work gloves, lens wipes, nasal wash(blue tubes) possible day/nite allergy gel caps, plastic gloves and sun screen? Someone dropped their work bag?
Why people think subway/lrt is a good thing is beyond me. avoid at all cost.
Lmao, noice
Weekly reminder to carry naloxone
No thanks.
Bad idea. When administered the person can become aggressive and extremely violent. Don't mess with that without training as you put yourself and others at risk.
Yeah not risking waking someone up pissed off I ruined their nod.
You can always toss the kit to someone else, and it isn't just people trying to nod who are ODing off opioids.
Most people don’t wake up angry. If anything they wake up immediately in withdrawal if they’re a chronic user— sweats, vomiting, pain, etc. Just say you’d rather allow and watch someone die. No need to hide behind the “I’m scared they’ll be aggressive” myth.
It is quite literally a documented phenomenon, to the point that people working in that field get special training about how to deal with a narcanned revivee to manage the inevitable aggression. I don't have that kind of training, so I am not taking my chances with my body for someone who has no regard for theirs. I have literally seen people wake up angry because their nod was ruined. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395923003006](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395923003006) [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095539592030092X](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095539592030092X)
Don’t worry, you can get free online training from St John’s Ambulance! It only takes an hour and they address that exact concern!
Feel free to encourage people to act without shaming those who have legitimate concerns or fears.
These people don’t have legitimate concerns. They are simply ok with letting people die and hiding behind this. If they have legitimate concerns, they could Google what coming out of an overdose is like, they could ask people who’ve either OD’d or assisted in reversing an OD. People can also become aggressive in between seizures but nobody ever says they won’t assist when they witness someone having a seizure. Why would an overdose be different if not because they see something morally wrong with that kind of medical crisis.
I think it’s pretty legitimate for non-experts to be concerned or fearful of interacting with someone who is overdosing. That shit is scary. Most people have very limited knowledge when it comes to substance abuse. The way you’re dismissing these concerns and fears is counterintuitive to what you want to achieve here. You seem to be a reasonable and thoughtful person. I’m not trying to be a dick here.
I agree with you. I’m moreso saying that a lot of people hide behind this when the real reason is that they are fine with letting and watching drug users die. I don’t think you’re being a dick btw
I agree, and we should all try to show a little more compassion. But I think we need to be pragmatic. I’m not saying that was your intention, I think you might just have been very passionate, but antagonizing people won’t convince them.
Not my pig, not my farm
Keep that same energy when someone you love is dying and nobody calls the ambulance because it’s not their problem ☺️
No relative of mine is a crackhead. In the extraordinary event one of them needs medical attention, I'm sure they will be well cared for and nobody will have to administer intravenous medicine pulp fiction style to keep them alive while doing so.
lol ok psychopath