Jasmine Crescent violence leads to meeting of community leaders

The mother of an 18-year-old man killed nearly a year ago on the same Gloucester street that's seen recent extreme violencejoinedcommunity leaders Thursday night to discuss neighbourhood safety.

Laurie Beaudoin's son Connor Stevenson was stabbed to death in the stairwell of her Jasmine Crescent apartment building in April 2015.

Since then, two other young men have been killed on the same street.

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On Thursday night, about two dozen community members including high school principals, youth sports coaches and religious leaders gathered for a closed-door meeting with areacity councillor Tim Tierneyand officials from the Ottawa Police Serviceto discuss ways to prevent violence, particularly amongst young people.

Speaking after the meeting, Beaudoin said she still feels "raw" when discussing her son's death, butsaid it's important she helps the community find solutions.

"If I don't, who will," said Beaudoin.

"If we keep turning our back it's just going to continue. So we have to step upand we have to say, 'listen, this is it.'"

Beaudoin said she doesn't feel the neighbourhood is inherently dangerous, but she would like to see more activities to engage young peopleand "keep them busy."

Community solutions explored

Community members who work with youth in the areawere invited to Thursday night's meeting, including Tim Nellis, president of the Gloucester Centre Minor Hockey Association.

Nellis said he thinks youth sports groups like his can "help get youth involved and engaged doing something productiveand also provide positive role models for them."

The principals ofthree area high schools were also at the community discussion.

"This solution is not just a policing solution, or a school solution, or a community centre solution," said Geordie Walker, principal of Rideau High School.

"The conversation in there was 'we all own this as a community.'"

'We're taking back our streets'

The area's city councillorTim Tierneysaid Thursday night's meeting provided "good dialogue."

He said he will continue to ask the police chief for increased policing and video surveillance for the neighbourhood.

Tierney also said the group is planning a community walk on April10 that will start at Lester B. Pearson High Schooland pass through Jasmine Crescentbefore finishing at Gloucester High School.

"We're going to show that we're taking back our streets," said Tierney.

"These are our streets, and we don't like this thuggery and this craziness that's occurred."