Finding solutions for a city’s decline

When I put my words together to write Winnipeg: Not the city it was (Free Press, June 19), I never could have anticipated the reaction.

I expected there’d be some response, but to receive the countless private messages, emails and texts from strangers, neighbours, friends, colleagues and long-lost family was nothing short of incredible.

I would have preferred to have been called names or told that I was completely off base, wrong or hyperbolic. But no.

Almost every message I received was heartbreaking because it spoke to the same pain, hardship and frustrations that I’d shared.

A whole lot of Winnipeggers are tired of living in fear. They’re upset, worried and angry. Many, like me, feel helpless, and are trying hard to stay hopeful but not always succeeding.

One woman was shaken up recently after someone on the bus threw a heavy object in anger toward another passenger, hitting her head. She has no choice but to take the bus to get out and do things. While on a limited income, and without a car, she remains active in the community and would very much like to stay that way, but incidents like that one aren’t new for her. And she’s understandably afraid.

Another woman, who works full-time shifts on different days and at different times, shared about the disturbing acts of violence and disregard for life that she continues to witness as she gets to and from work every day. On the bus and in and around bus stops, she has witnessed more than anyone would ever want to see. Unlike me, she doesn’t have the option of working from home.

A friend of mine with a physical disability shared that safety is a real and growing concern for her. “I have become afraid to take the bus because, in the event of a violent or chaotic situation, I may not be able to exit quickly enough. That fear is real, and I know I am not alone in it.”

I also heard from others who’d been threatened with physical harm — with weapons — and loss of employment. My god.

At what point do we stop, take note of the severity of this stuff and make changes?

We can’t ignore the fact that witnessing the distress and dangerous situations we see and experience on buses and city streets has an unmistakable impact on us. I personally have been shaken to the core and left with at times debilitating anxiety because of it.

There is an impact, not only on those who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues, but on everyone else in and on their path. Most of us are affected by it in some way.

And no, our city’s problems aren’t caused by any one particular group or one specific issue. There are cumulative effects to long-term denial and avoidance.

We’ve been looking away from each other instead of moving closer. We are becoming immune to the suffering of others and that should scare the you-know-what out of us.

There should never be shame in sharing our stories. All of us are precious beings. It seems like we’re somehow losing our shared humanity. Disrespect is rampant.

How can we rebuild accountability into everyday life? Can we teach self-respect — and respect in the broader sense? Can we inspire those things in how we treat people?

How can we make things better for everyone?

Fostering a sense of connection and belonging is hugely important.

Supporting grassroots groups who are doing that work is crucial.

Mentoring young people is essential. (Personally, I think the biggest hope lies with instilling teachings into our younger generations: love, peace, consequences, pride in ourselves and in our communities. Do we remember those things?)

Supporting the vulnerable is a must. Encouraging a bigger conversation is necessary. Some people are afraid to even mention what happened to them. They’re scared and staying quiet because of it. Somehow that’s become normalized: hiding in our fear.

I’m convinced that we can do a whole lot better than that. And it doesn’t require more research or committees. That work has been done and endlessly redone. It just needs our collective attention.

How about we plant seeds, thoughts and ideas that grow into happier and healthier communities?

And try to remember what could be, instead of blindly accepting what is. Humans are capable of so much better and more than we seem to have accepted. Why have we given up?

Enough with the judgments, the labels and the fear. Where’s the heart in our interactions?

Maybe we need a public education campaign focusing on that. Flash mobs spreading music, art and education, reminding all of us that everyone matters, showing us what joy feels and looks like.

Other cities and countries around the world are safer and happier. We, here, can be too.

Winnipeg used to be so much more. I choose to believe it can be that again.

Janine LeGal is a local freelance writer and community activist.