I live off Elgin Street in Ottawa, Ontario and if there is a world wide epicentre for crackheads, drunkheads and panhandlers, downtown Ottawa has to be it. When I go on infrequent trips to Montreal, Toronto and elsewhere it takes a while to adjust to not being constantly asked for change. It is non stop here in Ottawa.
I realize that if you are addicted to crack, booze, whatever it is a struggle but it does start to wear.
Usta be, back in the day, say, oh, April 2009, one could leave the core, go to the 'burbs of Ottawa-Gatineau and escape the non stop harassment by beggars.
No more.
In the last two weeks I have been approached by, for wont of a better word, crack heads in the most suburban of places: the Loblaws at Merivale and Baseline [sir, do you have four loonies; I do like ambition]; by a toothless woman who is also a regular on the Market and Elgin street at the South Keys box store configuration [she just mumbles the words "...money, money, money..." with her hand out; brevity is a nice touch] and; four losers, two couples, one pregnant which is always nice, operating out of an old Toyota at the SuperC in Hull, near the casino [their approach was very interesting; if you refuse, like I did, one of the crack heads's boyfriends, wearing a UNC TarHeels shirt btw, similtaneously threatens you and runs away which is at once perplexing and a relief].
I love living in the cosmopolitan capital that is Ottawa. Love it.
WFDS
Sounds like you folks need a couple of free injection sites.
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