After 2 shootings in 2 days, North Central 'sombre' but resilient, says community association head

A man was shot in Regina's North Central neighbourhood and transported to hospital before daybreak on Tuesday morningthe second shooting in two daysin the area.

"Bang. Bang."

That's the soundawoman who lives a few houses away from the crime scene said she heard around 5:00 a.m. CST. She was awoken from her sleep in her second-storeybedroom.

Following the loud sounds, she heard what sounded like crying and moaning.

"I thought it was an animal," she said.

The woman declined to identify herself publicly, saying "then they'll come after me."

On Mondaymorning, a man was shot on the 900 block of RetallackStreet.

"It's a, I guess, a bit of a sombremood," said MurrayGiesbrecht, the newexecutive director of the North Central Community Association.

"There's some general disappointment anytime something like this happens, but I also see some resiliency in this community."

Amid the violence, people have found security atmmawyatitn centre in "the heart of North Central," he said. The integrated, multi-service facility opened its doors in September.

"It's very important that people can feel good about where they are despite some of these violent incidents," Giesbrechtsaid.

He's hopeful the centre might shine a lot on the positive opportunities and connections that exist within the community.

Exploringsolutions

Giesbrecht said there are continuous discussions about what can be done to end the violence in the neighbourhood.

"Is it prevention? Is it education or is it more programming to help people escape these lifestyles?"

First and foremost,hesaidprevention work should happen through children's education.

"Working with our younger people here, helping them understandthe implications of these types of events and the impact it has on families" is key, he said, noting that has to start with the youngest population.

"From what I understand, some of the gangs have been trying to recruit kids in the elementary school."

He said there also needs to be programming for people trying to leave a violent lifestyle.

"I think a lot of people would probably like to get out of it, but they find themselves asking the question, 'Well where do Igo and what do I do?'"

Collaborations between the community association, the police, the school, the White Pony Lodge and other organizations will help, he said.

A Canada-wide concern

Joel Murray, city councillor for Regina's Ward 6 and a member of the board of police commissioners,said the majority of calls he receives from people in his ward are centred around community safety.

"It's something that, as a city, we're concerned about and as a police commission we're extremely concerned about," Murray said.

He said gun violence is up across Canada, which heattributes in part to an increasein firearm thefts. He said often, guns that weren't stored adequately end up in Regina after being stolen from rural homes surrounding the city.

"We are actively looking at ways we can decrease the amount of firearms accessible to people based on gun amnesties the [Regina Police Service] are undertaking which were very successful last time," Murray said, explaining that a province-wide gun amnesty is being explored.

The programallows people to turn in illegal firearms without facing repercussions.

Murray echoed Giesbrecht's sentiment, saying that the other main way to address gun violence is through proactive programs that target youth prior to gang recruitment. He said The Regina intersectoral Partnership (TRiP) a collaborative, community-driven safety initiative is something city council wants to promote and secure funding for.

For now, despite the latest round of shots fired,Giesbrechtsaid people will carry on.

"People are always aware of it and Ithink it's always certainly in their mindsbut Ialso think that they still feel that they're going to live their daily lives," he said.

"Students are still coming to school. People are coming to the library. People are coming to work," he said, adding attendance at Scott Collegiate, which is inmmawyatitncentre, has gone up.

A spokesman for Regina Public Schools said enrolment at the school wasup by 28 per cent at the start of this school year, based on official reports to the Ministry of Education. The school had 174 students at Sept. 30, 2016 and 223 as of Sept. 30 of this year.

Giesbrecht said optimism is abundant at mmawyatitn centre, especially amongthe young.

"The kids are always playing and shooting baskets and, you know, engaging in some positivity with one another, building relationships."