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Once a gem in the centre of the nation’s capital, the ByWard Market is losing its place in Ottawans’ hearts. Longstanding businesses have closed. A rash of high-profile violent crimes — including a brazen daytime shooting — and rampant opioid abuse have increased calls from locals for help. The attempts to revitalize the area — from the addition of a $50 million neighbourhood police station to installing an undersized fake-ice rink — vary widely. But what say the people who are still there? We interviewed folks who live, work and play in the ByWard Market. These are their stories, in their own words.
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Carlos Daniel Diaz is a block leader with Ottawa Inner City Health. He has lived at the Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter for two years.
This morning, I woke up one lady who was doing fentanyl all night. And she was so down. So I woke her up, and I checked her, and she was breathing. And then I went back to see her in an hour, and she was OK. I brought her to the (outreach) van. She was so hungry, so I brought her here and she’s so happy.
Someone stole her stuff when she fell asleep. The other homeless people steal stuff when they fall asleep. It’s always like that. We’re around, and in that moment, we helped her.
Any homeless person, anyone overdosing, we wake them up. We’re looking specifically for them.
I love my job. I love to walk around and communicate with people. I see new faces, new people from different countries. I love it. The community with people, with neighbours, visitors, the homeless community. Everybody. I don’t think there are any hard parts. It’s very simple.
God sent me here to help people. It’s no coincidence. I help the people, the homeless people. I look for needles on the street so they don’t use them again.
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I lived in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, and then Ottawa. I communicate with the visitors. I try to bring the homeless people away from the very nice places and help the homeless people as much as we can.
In the morning we give out snacks, coffee, hot chocolate. If they’re sleeping, we wake them up, help them, give them naloxone. If we can’t wake them up, we call 911 to save their life. If you don’t wake them up, they die.
It’s very simple. It’s very easy. Help people, talk to people. Communicate.
As told to Marlo Glass. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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