Watch above: Ottawa is known for its politics and power suits, but now it’s earning a reputation for gang violence. There was a record number of shootings in the Canada’s capital city this year. Vassy Kapelos reports on what’s behind the rash of violence.
OTTAWA – Marc Clairoux understands the allure of gangs.
He joined a neighbourhood gang in west-end Ottawa at 13, then a skinhead gang at 18 – all for a feeling of family and belonging.
“Close friends of mine were dying,” says Clairoux, who spent 17 years in the gang before leaving almost a decade ago.
“It was just an ugly way to live and I had to just take a look at myself and my family and think that I need to get away from this.”
It’s a feeling Clairoux recalls as he hears of a record increase in gun violence in the nation’s capital.
The city has now hit 48 shootings – up from 30 last year.
Police estimate about 85 per cent of this year’s shootings are gang-related.
Watch: Former gang member Marc Clairoux talks about the allure of gang life and why he left.
A targeted shooting at a busy outlet mall on Boxing Day in the west-end suburb of Kanata, along with two separate shootings on Monday, have left residents wondering if the normally sleepy city has changed.
“The last week and a half I have to say has really rocked me. And I think, less as an MPP and more so as a mother,” says Lisa MacLeod, who represents the southwest riding of Nepean-Carleton.
“It’s heartbreaking.”
Watch: Acting Staff Sgt. Ken Bryden of Ottawa’s guns and gangs unit, and Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod, talk about the increase in gang violence in Ottawa.
MacLeod, who is also a Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, says she has reached out to Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau, as well as Community Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi, to see if more provincial resources are needed to combat the problem.
“This is escalating. It’s become more violent and more volatile than I’ve ever seen. And this isn’t just one shooting or one stabbing – it’s over a week-and-a half worth of violent activity in the city’s west end, where I represent, and in the south end, which I also represent,” she says.
“So it’s been quite concerning to me.”
‘Spilling over’
Ken Bryden, acting staff sergeant of the guns and gangs unit, says the recent violence is a result of infighting amongst gangs over drugs and power struggles.
“Unfortunately, it is spilling over into the community. I mean, I think the most recent incidents are a perfect example of that,” he said.
He said the Direct Action Response Team, which monitors street gang activity, is part of the police’s widespread effort to combat the problem.
Bryden cautioned that most of the shootings are targeted – and Ottawa is generally a safe city.
But he admitted innocent people could get hurt.
“It (would) be completely ignorant of me to sit here and say that it couldn’t or it won’t turn. It is a possibility, absolutely,” he said.
“I’m also very confident to say our organization has many different resources and assets in place, in conjunction with the guns and gangs and DART section to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Criminal defence lawyer Joseph Addelman, who has represented gang members, says the drug business in Ottawa has been escalating for years.
Addelman says the violence directly relates to the changing nature of the business, from cannabis to crack cocaine.
He says young men can make between $10,000 and $20,000 a week.
“For as long as the drug business is as lucrative as it is, there’s always going to be 50 guys willing to replace the five that the police arrest,” he said.
Watch: Criminal defence lawyer Joseph Addelman says Ottawa’s gang war has gotten more violent in recent months
“This is not The Godfather. There is not this very clear hierarchy and leadership structure and territorial structure, where there’s one person sort of calling the shots. It doesn’t work that way. These are just groups of young men who are competing with each other for the drug business.”
As for Clairoux, he’s seeing many more shootings than when he was in a gang 10 or 15 years ago.
But the draw of money, reputation, and gang culture remains the same.
“I didn’t find it was worth it in the end. I’ve had so many restrictions put on my life because of it,” he says.
“It doesn’t fit a healthy lifestyle. It may seem glamorous when you’re young but you reach an age where you look back and say everything I know and love is in danger, why would I do that to myself?”
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