Ottawa police have significantly cleared out an area of downtown that has been a source of safety concerns for years, but members of Ottawa’s Inuit community say they’ve lost a safe space for gathering. “We’re not causing problems,” said Pitts, who comes to the underpass near the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive nearly every day. “People who can’t handle the alcohol no, no, we don’t want them around. They cause problems.” Ottawa is home to the largest urban Inuit population outside the North. Large gatherings at the underpass have been a common scene for decades and the subject of growing safety concerns with community members pushing the city and police to do more. In April, an assault left a man with life-threatening injuries and it’s the same area where a man was stabbed to death in 2006. The Ottawa Police Service confirms there has been an increased police presence in the area in “support of the City’s revitalization efforts along Rideau Street and Sussex Drive.” Since May 1, police have issued four tickets in the area: one for trespassing and three related to consuming alcohol in a public place. “Officers have been conducting proactive patrols and engaging with individuals through education and outreach initiatives aimed at discouraging open drug and alcohol use, in response to concerns raised by community members,” Ottawa police said in a statement, adding the police service “continues to work collaboratively with community partners to promote a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all who use the space.” Those who use the underpass say they’ve noticed a difference. “It does seem better. They’re still gathering some time, but it was very intimidating before,” said Michal Jacob who uses the underpass. “We obviously have a lot of people who are unhoused here in downtown Ottawa and so the concern is when we’re cleaning certain areas up, like where are they being pushed to?” The Inuit Circle, a group that members describe as a care group gathering in the area, said the area has become dirtier and provided a video to show garbage and cans littering the area. “Seems a bit more dangerous because usually they feel protected in numbers. Now they’re all split up,” said Nick. The group said gathering spots have now shifted to other parts of downtown. “We feed people who are falling through the cracks. We catch people as best as we can, and we’re literally three people. Zero funding,” said Rose Lockyer.
