Community meeting discusses safety in wake of Toronto van attack

Almost two weeks after a van barrelled by means of a North York neighbourhood killing 10 individuals and injuring 14, the group gathered to debate methods to enhance public safety. Stephanie and Louis Goldner say they’re nonetheless impacted by the van attack and spoke out about options at Sunday’s discussion board at Willowdale Baptist Church. ​“While you hear a loud engine go by or one thing, you may’t assist however assume, what if?” Louis Goldner instructed CBC Toronto. “You flip your head, you do not simply cross by prefer it’s nothing. It is undoubtedly a priority.” Stephanie Goldner says she walks by the place the attack befell each day and has observed a change in how she walks down the road. Stephanie Goldner, a resident in the world of the van attack, spoke at Sunday’s discussion board. (Chris Langanzarde/CBC) “I am trying over my shoulder and strolling a bit of bit nearer to the wall, and I am not carrying my headphones,” she mentioned. “It is at all times in the again of your thoughts as a result of there’s copycats on the market and also you hope that any individual does not try this once more, however then you definitely by no means know, proper?” Sunday’s meeting additionally included a Q&A session with Toronto police. (Adrian Cheung/CBC) Willowdale Coun. John Filion attended the occasion and mentioned it offered him a chance to listen to from those that nonetheless have anxiousness over the attack — one thing he hasn’t heard a lot of. “There’s rather a lot of individuals who nonetheless have anxiousness about what occurred and are involved once they’re strolling down the road, which is to be anticipated, however I hadn’t heard rather a lot of that beforehand,” he mentioned. Willowdale Coun. John Filion mentioned Sunday’s discussion board gave him a chance to listen to from those that nonetheless have anxiousness over the van attack. (Chris Langanzarde/CBC) “We have to deal with not solely no matter we will to make the streets safer, but additionally individuals’s feeling of being secure and sense of safety in the neighbourhood.” Having helped out on the rising memorial for these killed and injured in the attack, Omar Hassan says he has seen individuals mourn and attempt to make sense of what occurred in their very own methods. He believes there are nonetheless issues that could possibly be performed to assist make individuals really feel safer. “What would assist proper now, particularly throughout the subsequent couple of weeks to assist individuals heal, is to have extra group response officers on the streets,” he mentioned. “I believe that sense of group and safety needs to be handled as rapidly as potential.” Omar Hassan says steps could possibly be taken to assist the group really feel secure. (Chris Langanzarde/CBC) Louis Goldner additionally believes issues have to be performed to assist preserve the group secure. He says the set up of concrete posts and planters must be among the many choices thought-about. “A concrete put up initially of a sidewalk, at an intersection, right here and there and a planter right here and there,” he mentioned. “Nowadays, not an excessive amount of to ask contemplating, what can occur after we do not put these issues into place.” Resident Louis Goldner says the set up of concrete posts and planters must be among the many choices thought-about to assist preserve the group secure. (Chris Langanzarde/CBC) Whereas affected by the assaults, he says he nonetheless loves his neighbourhood and is optimistic issues will enhance. “If any good has come of that is, it is that it does deliver collectively the group,” Louis Goldner mentioned. “We love North York, and we’re not going wherever, this ain’t going to make us transfer.”  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/van-attack-community-meeting-1.4651104?cmp=rss