We lost a member of our community recently.
I did not know Amy Paul but, like many of us, I am feeling deeply affected by her loss. Her slight, somewhat slanted figure, darting through the streets of my neighbourhood around Beechwood and Marier was a near daily sight. Sometimes I would see her late in the morning while walking my dog. She would often be dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans, her light brown hair whipping around her face. Sometimes, on the quiet flipside of the day, on my way home from my job at the restaurant, I would catch sight of her, a painted version of herself, waiting for an opportunity to make her living.
Amy was a sex worker.
It will never be wholly known nor understood what led to the tragic end of Amy’s life. Details may emerge but it is such a deeply rooted and complex issue that speaks to many of the challenges that exist in our community. While I am encouraged by the vitality of Vanier and its residents, I am saddened by the underlying social and economic vulnerabilities that continue to afflict many of our neighbours. It is a difficult issue and one that deserves our attention. At this time I simply want to say goodbye to Amy Paul. With her departure, I feel a pall over the streets of Vanier that I travel every day and call home. Repose en paix, Amy.
Photo: Jessie Duffy