English groups in Montreal feel left out after no invitation to violence forum

Montreal’s Center for Research Action on Race Relations (CRARR) says it’s ready to file a formal complaint to the city’s ombudsman after not being invited to Montreal’s forum on youth violence. The forum is hosted by the city’s police force.

CRARR says the forum needs more English minority voices to be part of the solution.

“They have a lot of experience to share, and they also have a lot of reality-based evidence of the needs of people on the ground that should be made known and should be taken to account by the police and other crime prevention programs,” said Fo Neimi, executive director of CRARR.

“Three days ago, the City of Montreal put out a strategic plan comprised of twelve commitments to, among other things, inclusion and inclusive citizen participation. Two days after that, the summit was held and a lot of people were excluded simply because of language or geography,” explained Neimi.

And the organization isn’t alone. Sharon Nelson, a volunteer as first vice president of the Jamaican Association of Montreal says the event aimed at discussing new ways to prevent violent crime in the city lacked adequate representation.

“It was a great opportunity for all groups, both French and English, to be at the table at the same time, talking about the issues and potentially coming up with steps forward.”

“These different groups that have been working with youth for a very long time and engaged in the community, very much entrenched in part of the community to not have been there was a lost opportunity,” Nelson added.

Montreal police said in a statement: “The SPVM is united with partners from different backgrounds in order to provide itself with all the means necessary to act in the face of the urgency of the situation.”

But those in the minority groups say they aren’t seeing what’s being promised.

“Maybe the intentions are there, the intentions are good, but the follow-through is not there,” said Nelson.

“It’s impossible not to include people who are English speaking, many of whom are victims of crime and of violence, and who deserve to have the proper resources to address those community needs,” explained Neimi.

Neimi adds, “when people have concrete needs and people have the concrete experience to bring to the table and they’re not there on whatever program and measure that will be set in place will not address these unmet needs.”

The City of Montreal, for its part, tells CityNews in a statement, “prevention is at the heart of the city of Montreal’s urban safety strategy. these efforts include the entire population, without distinction.”