Treats or tricks in the hood

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Children gather last year at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre for a safe Halloween. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

It seems there is still a lot of fear in the North End about taking the little ones out for Halloween.

You see, last year around this time it was pretty crazy in our neighbourhood. With three shootings in one evening just before Halloween, and an unidentified shooter on the loose, even I wasn't too keen on going out at night. Two guys were killed and a young girl was seriously wounded.

Things were pretty quiet soon after.

You couldn't go five minutes without seeing a police car cruising by. Cops were walking the beat again. There was also the mobile command post that moved to a different street corner every few days before it disappeared.

For awhile there, it was probably safer than ever to go out if you thought about it.

The police appeared to be looking for a kid, or some kids. I heard a few rumours about who the shooter was but no one was ever caught.

It was like a self-imposed lockdown in our home.

Being a longtime North Ender, however, I did get over it after a day or two and continued on my evening walks. Feeling safe in your own community means different things to different people, but to me it means not being afraid to take a walk around the 'hood.

The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre stepped up because so many people were scared to take their kids out trick or treating last year. They organized a candy drive and invited kids to pick up some Halloween candy.

The event was a big hit, but it was so popular the friendship centre ran out of candy. I can attest to that -- I think a few of my nieces went and stood in line but came home empty-handed.

And in the neighbourhood it was pretty sad looking. Streets were dark and barely anyone was handing out candy.

I did my usual decorations and handed out treats at home to about 40 kids. That was down from the usual 100 or so kids I usually get.

Well, this year the friendship centre is going to do their Halloween campaign again. They're calling for people to donate some treats and they'll hand it out to kids again.

It's great that there's a Halloween candy giveaway again, but there's also a chance not every kid in the neighbourhood will be able to make it, or there might not be enough for everyone.

I like that there's a new Halloween event in our community, but let's not live in fear forever. Let's continue the good-old, trick-or-treating tradition, too.

Parents, bundle up your kids and take them for a walk around the block. That's what I'm going to do with my little one.

Going back to the way it used to be before those terrible shootings says something about the resilience of this community. It also tells our kids we aren't helpless and can take back control of our community.

Besides, Halloween just won't be the same without the Halloween hunt. There's nothing like the thrill of going out trick or treating with your friends, siblings or your cousins.

Remember being able to race down the sidewalk with your parents in tow? Or yelling "trick or treat" or "Halloween apples" at the top of your lungs on people's doorstep?

And then getting home tired and opening up your pillowcase and taking a good look at your hard-earned haul. Now that's the Halloween I remember.

So this year, I'm going to set up some decorations as usual, and hand out some candy. The bogeyman that is this mystery shooter isn't going to ruin Halloween for another year.

So donate some candy to the friendship centre and set out a bowl of treats to hand out at home.

After all, Halloween is for kids.

Colleen Simard is a Winnipeg writer.

colleen.simard@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2011 J2