Toronto's Shame
Wasn't sure if this should be Urban of People, but I feel it's more peoplecentric.
This is a memorial outside of Reilly's Pub in Toronto, near the corner of Yonge Street and Gould Street. On this spot, at 5pm December 26th, a 15 year old girl was accidentally shot and killed during a gang shoot-out. In a crowd of hundreds of shoppers, Jane Creba was hit by a stray bullet from the gun of a seventeen year old. Another teenager. Ironically, Jane was the only mortality; none of the gang members appear to have been hit.
This memorial has sprung up at the spot of her death; at the busiest part of the busiest street in the busiest city in Canada, pedestrians are stopping to read poems, look at pictures, and light candles in honour of Jane Creba.
On January 6th, I made a point of going back to the memorial with my camera. This struck home for me; I live only a block away, attend university steps away, and can usually be found with my friends in the very pub this memorial is nearly blocking. There have been half a dozen fatal, gang-related shootings on my block since June of 2005, but this one hit home hardest. This was not a 2am shooting -- it happened during dinner. So I felt that this girl needed someone taking pictures of her memories; not someone being paid by the Toronto Star or National Post, but someone who felt a little more connected.
I spent an hour shooting the memorial. As I stood there, I literally watching hundreds of people pass by. Some stopped for a second; fewer stopped for a few minutes, holding solemn silence. Many walked right past. The only constant visitor was the man you will see in "Vigil." He was there before I arrived, and was still hard at work when I left, cleaning up debris, relighting candles, arranging the many testimonials and gifts left by visitors. He did all of this in silence. He took small notice of me, but did not seem offended by my presence. I gathered from what I saw that this man was likely Jane Creba's father, and I was incredibly moved by his devotion to her. He appears in nearly every photo I took that night, whether by chance or by composition -- he felt as permanent as the signs, the candles, and the toys.
So I will do my part. I will not write a poem, nor light a candle, though I have the greatest respect for those who do. Rather, I will share my pictures with everyone here, and I encourage you to share them with your loved ones. This is my tribute to Jane Creba, the 15 year old high school student who was shot dead by another child. Take a second to think about that. And if you are ever in any situation in which you have influence against anything that could result in this, please do something. Hundreds of people are senselessly killed every day in gun-related violence. Jane Creba was only one of them.
Don't forget any of them.
This is a memorial outside of Reilly's Pub in Toronto, near the corner of Yonge Street and Gould Street. On this spot, at 5pm December 26th, a 15 year old girl was accidentally shot and killed during a gang shoot-out. In a crowd of hundreds of shoppers, Jane Creba was hit by a stray bullet from the gun of a seventeen year old. Another teenager. Ironically, Jane was the only mortality; none of the gang members appear to have been hit.
This memorial has sprung up at the spot of her death; at the busiest part of the busiest street in the busiest city in Canada, pedestrians are stopping to read poems, look at pictures, and light candles in honour of Jane Creba.
On January 6th, I made a point of going back to the memorial with my camera. This struck home for me; I live only a block away, attend university steps away, and can usually be found with my friends in the very pub this memorial is nearly blocking. There have been half a dozen fatal, gang-related shootings on my block since June of 2005, but this one hit home hardest. This was not a 2am shooting -- it happened during dinner. So I felt that this girl needed someone taking pictures of her memories; not someone being paid by the Toronto Star or National Post, but someone who felt a little more connected.
I spent an hour shooting the memorial. As I stood there, I literally watching hundreds of people pass by. Some stopped for a second; fewer stopped for a few minutes, holding solemn silence. Many walked right past. The only constant visitor was the man you will see in "Vigil." He was there before I arrived, and was still hard at work when I left, cleaning up debris, relighting candles, arranging the many testimonials and gifts left by visitors. He did all of this in silence. He took small notice of me, but did not seem offended by my presence. I gathered from what I saw that this man was likely Jane Creba's father, and I was incredibly moved by his devotion to her. He appears in nearly every photo I took that night, whether by chance or by composition -- he felt as permanent as the signs, the candles, and the toys.
So I will do my part. I will not write a poem, nor light a candle, though I have the greatest respect for those who do. Rather, I will share my pictures with everyone here, and I encourage you to share them with your loved ones. This is my tribute to Jane Creba, the 15 year old high school student who was shot dead by another child. Take a second to think about that. And if you are ever in any situation in which you have influence against anything that could result in this, please do something. Hundreds of people are senselessly killed every day in gun-related violence. Jane Creba was only one of them.
Don't forget any of them.
imag●e●NATION
SEEING THE WORLD IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT...
http://www.imag-e-nation.net
SEEING THE WORLD IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT...
http://www.imag-e-nation.net
0
Comments
SEEING THE WORLD IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT...
http://www.imag-e-nation.net
Excellent captures - I really like the last one
Smug Galleries - Other Images
Nice pictures... I live just outside of Toronto but this has hit home for many of us too... My parents went to one of the vigils that were held for this poor girl.
As a relatively new father I can't imagine how a father would cope with something of this nature. I don't believe that words could express the emotions...
Well said and thanks for the post...
Take care...
Lee
The tribute is touching and shows the sadness of a great city. Your tribute is all the more touching with your closeness to the area. My heart goes out to her father and family.
** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
no birds sang there except those that sang best.
~Henry Van Dyke
Smugmug site
Blog Portfolio
Facebook
Thanks for sharing this, I had not heard about the sad event.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
Thanks for such great photos HeldDown and the thought.
Setup: One camera, one lens, and one roll of film.