Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – From Me!

Sept 18, 2006

As I Walked By

Carol Roach

I walked by Dawson College last night on my way to the synagogue as I had done hundred’s of times before. I got off the bus and started to walk up the hill by the College. It should have been routine, it should have been an ordinary evening; it should have been simply a time for me to think about the myriad of things that are going on in my life as I made the familiar weekly trek. Instead this journey was not about me and the happenings in my personal world. It was about the world of Dawson College, the very same college I attended in the 1970’s.

Dusk had already set in on the streets of Montreal but the corner of De Maisonneuve and Atwater lit up with candles. The light from these candles were visible from the bus stop as I got out. I walked up the street and entered the crowd of students gathered there. No one spoke. Everyone stood in silence in front of the flowers and candles reflecting upon the recent terrible happenings that transpired just a few days before. I stopped my walk and stood in silence with them. I said a silent prayer until the tears welled up and I decided it was time to move on.

I continued my walk up the hill and saw more deposits of flowers in front of the two separate sets of cast iron gates. Each inch of the campus stood out as a bold reminder of the horrible day that wrecked the lives of so many students. Sept 13, 2006, was the day that took the life of 18 year old Anastasia De Sousa, a beautiful young woman and business student who dreams and aspirations were cut short in the vary prime of her life.

As I neared the final corner of the campus on my way to the synoguogue I stopped to talk to a middle aged man and his young daughter who had parked their car to deposit flowers at the site. I pointed him in the direction of the vigil and they thanked me for it. No more words were exchanged. The city is still very much in shock.

The families of all the victims who were shot by a madman are in shock but they are also angry. There is a public outcry now in Quebec for stricter gun control. The current federal administration is thinking of banning the proposed gun registry law. The ironic part of all this is that the gunman, 25 year old Kimveer Gill had passed the government safety tests and was a licensed gun owner. He was also a member of two different gun clubs here in Quebec. Marco Pendenza, an employer at one of the gun clubs states “Belonging to a gun club doesn't make you a criminal,” Pendenza added. "You can't control someone going nuts." http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/09/15/aftermath-shooting.html

What makes a person like Kimveer Gill into a murderer? What would send him over the edge? The neighbours reported that Kimveer was a loner. Even the parents of Kimveer could not answer that question. They too were shocked that he would do such a thing. They told the police that he lived in secrecy and they had no knowledge of his private life.

Yet much of who Kimveer Gill really was could be viewed on his blog on the website vampirefreaks.com. Here we have a portrait of a young man obsessed with firearms. He posted photos of himself wearing a black trench coat and wheeling guns and knives. The blog also includes a photo of a tombstone with his name printed on it. Below it, the phrase reads: "Lived fast died young. Left a mangled corpse." http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914/

Through his journal entries, “Gill reveals himself as a lonely, troubled person with a hatred of society and authority figures like police, principals and teachers. He blames jocks for high school bullying.” http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914/

Many Psychologists maintain that more should be done to help these individuals alienated from society before such crimes happen. Former Toronto homicide detective Mark Mendolson believes someone who saw Gill posing with a gun on his blog should have alerted authorities. “Something like this, you don't keep to yourself” Mendolson goes on to say, "So there are probably scores of his peers or colleagues from school, who have seen him with this gun -- I am quite sure. And what did they all do about it?" http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914/

On the other hand, Jethro Berelson, owner of vampirefreaks.com urges the public not to condemn Goth culture because of this incident. He feels that most members of his website are friendly and nice and do not commit crimes. He admits that he is urgings site members to report suspicious behaviour and it is difficult for him to moderate everything; “there are just too many blogs.” He ended by telling The Canadian Press “"It's not like we can moderate everything. And even if he is holding a gun in a picture, that's not necessarily a crime."

I find another interesting point in all this is that Kimveer Gill did not attend Dawson College. Why did he pick this particular educational institution to carry out murder/suicide rampage? Will anyone ever know?

My walk ended as I entered the doors of the synagogue. My thoughts returned to my immediate surroundings. I sat down, lowered my head and prayed some more.

Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University. She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology. Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor. You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com. You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well. Be sure to quote the isbn number: 1-4137-1921-X for local purchases: Carol’s second book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a home. Stay tuned for details.

If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you. Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.