Boxing Day 2005 marked an important turning point for Toronto’s “Year of the Gunâ€. A brazen mid-day shootout between up to 15 youths resulted in the death of 15 year old Jane Creba and injuries to 6 others (all but one have been confirmed unconnected to gang activity). Creba, like thousands of other Torontonians and out-of-towners, was out deal-shopping with her family when she wandered into the path of a bullet intended for one of the youth combatants.
The reaction to this senseless murder was instantaneous and unprecedented:
- Lucia Campisi, the first paramedic on the scene, spoke candidly in TV interviews about the trauma she suffered and the subsequent counseling she now receives after learning her efforts were not enough to save Creba’s life.
- A candlelight vigil for the victim quickly became a major political event, attracting hundreds of mourners (instead of the usual dozens of mourners who attended vigils for other victims), advocacy groups and a who’s who of politicians seeking (re)election in 2006
- A online guestbook was setup online for friends and family to send condolences to Creba, and instead was flooded with heartfelt condolences from as far away as Australia
- A online guestbook was setup online for friends and family to send condolences to Creba, and instead was flooded with heartfelt condolences from as far away as Australia
- News columnists across Canada predicted doom and gloom for Toronto. Toronto Sun writer Connie Woodcock, in a column titled ‘Farewell, Toronto’, declared never to return to the city for her commercial needs: “Next time I feel like going shopping, I’m not getting any closer to Yonge and Dundas than the Oshawa Mall. I’ve never heard of a shootout thereâ€
- The Toronto Youth Cabinet, a grassroots community group previously ignored by politicians and much of the media (despite their constant suggestions on how to combat gun violence) suddenly found themselves on national TV via CTV Newsnet
- Prior to this shooting, public interest in Toronto’s spiraling gun violence problem was lukewarm at best. Despite the efforts of the local media to draw attention to the escalating violence and the social problems behind this violence (best exemplified by CityTV’s Stop the Violence Web/TV campaign), the response of the average Canadian was “Let them shoot each otherâ€, “Liberals / Caribbean immigrants / Mike Harris / 50-Cent is to blame†or “I hate Toronto anywayâ€.
So why the sudden outpouring of grief and emotion from the far corners of the nation and beyond? First, look at what it is most likely NOT the cause of the sudden public interest:
- The uniqueness of a Toronto murder. Jane Creba was the 78th and final Toronto murder victim of 2005
- The existence of gun violence in Toronto. Creba was 52nd and final Toronto murder victim of 2005
- A shooting in a highly visible area. 21 year-old Dwayne Taylor was shot to death at Dundas Square (just blocks away from the Creba shooting) nearly half a year earlier. The venue was equally crowded, being in the midst of the annual Caribana festival, and police were present during the time of the shooting
- The innocence of the victim. 18 year-old Jason Huxtable –a recent high school graduate who planned to study Business at Seneca College- was gunned down by a 15 year old boy for the unspeakable crime of visiting a girl who happened to live in the wrong housing project. 26 year-old Livvette Olivea Miller was killed in a manner similar to Jane Creba – the mother of four was caught in the crossfire between rival gang members at a crowded North York dance club
- Media coverage. As stated, local coverage of gun violence has been comprehensive. Apart from CityTV’s campaign, the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun have also run specials on gun violence and the social conditions behind them. Each shooting, and the profile of the victim(s) involved, has been well publicized
So if all of these factors could have logically been the cause, what’s left? The obvious thing no one wants to admit: Jane Creba is a 15 year old all-Canadian white girl who comes across as “everyone’s daughterâ€. While most of the limited public interest in previous Toronto shootings focused on the general menace of gangs (resulting in half-baked quick-fix solutions and/or slurs against the demographic of the shooters) there has been a concerted effort to focus on Creba as a valued life:
“It’s touched each one of us in Toronto, one of our own sisters, her life cut short by a gun,” – comment to the Toronto Star
“what a tragic end to a life with such potential. My heart goes out to the Creba family, and Jane’s friends. I only wonder why such a horrible things have to happen to such a wonderful young life†– posted to Creba’s online memorial
“I cannot imagine the pain you must feel at this moment on the tragic loss of Jane, She looks like a great person and I know that she’ll be miss alot. Toronto and the entire nation is standing side by side, mourning with you at this time. I sincerely hope that you can find the inner strength in the days and months ahead and my thoughts and prayers go out to you all.†– posted to Creba’s online memorial
Why were Huxtable and Miller not worthy of this sympathy? The apparent double-standard makes one wonder what people really meant when they were ok with ‘them killing each other’. Were people really referring to just the gang members?
The positive outcome of this sad double-standard is that the politicians and judicial system, under intense public pressure, will finally work on creating new laws and enforcing existing laws to keep those accused and convicted of gun crimes off the streets. It’s unfortunate that 52 people had to be killed by handgun before mayor David Miller and provincial/national politicians realized this problem wasn’t going to go away via blaming the U.S. or banning guns that are already prohibited. Still, one has to wonder whether we’d all be falling over ourselves to demand government action had Jane been another Mohamed or Shaquan.
We live in a democracy and politicians –who still need to be re-elected no matter how worthlessly they behave while in office- are ultimately captive to our collective will. As such, the people of Canada must begrudgingly share blame in the death of Jane Creba.
Update: Jane Creba - 1 Month Later
Update (June 13): Deaths = 1, Arrests = 25, Lessons Learned = 0
You told it straight and dropped the facts on us. Keep it comming on various topics and this site get a serious fan base!!
The message left to the Star is telling. This “our sister” comment could not be made about Livette because she is not “their sister” she is not white, not upper-middle class. She had been a teenage mother when she had her first child. And Jason Huxtable lost his life in the midst of Caribana weekend, not given it’s due as part of the Toronto fabric of life. Though it has more promise than gay pride weekend it only gets a fraction of the economic support. Because gay men are still white, still upper-class, still European-based.
I’m not going to cry racism. I’m saying it firmly and with strength. Racism is no longer about outright scorn and physical distance. My white sister-in-law is married to my companion’s black brother and her racist arrogance is persistent in things I don’t think she notices. The whole attitude is one of entitlement and deserving. Livette, Jason and others didn’t DESERVE the same sympathies as Jane Creba: they were not in line to inherit this culture of commerce, this culture of European based theatrical expression, artistical expression, and media entertainment, they are actually a threat to all that the pioneers and conquerers of the 15th century have established and built to this day. Jane, conversely, was not: from her upper middle-class position, combined with the added boost of her attractiveness (which is heavily valued in this society) would have likely perpetuated this culture. Killing her is symbolic that the “dominant” culture is not safe anymore, and that the ivory tower is chipping.
My condolences are with her mother. And the mothers of all who have lost their sons and daughters in 2005 and before.
Also, the reason the gay pride parade gets more economic support than Caribana does is probably due to the fact that potential investors don’t have to worry about shots being fired in the midst of the pride parade, something that seems to happen at a good number of Caribana events.
By the way, I feel sorry for your white sister-in-law. I’m sure if she breathes the wrong way she’s accused of being racist.
and wat da fuk u be doing down on Church St you ugly lesbian racist.
lol.
yeah… more than likely
And while you’re at it, why don’t you go back to high school and learn to spell correctly?
did it ever occur to you idiots that the outpouring had nothing to do with race but more to do with geography? Thousands of people were at Yonge and Dundas on Boxing Day; myself, probably some of you and many of your friends. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF US. I walked by that Foot Locker two hours before that shooting. It made me, and a ton of others people think about what could have been. Yonge and Dundas on Boxing Day is a symbol of this city. Shootings in Scarborough and Jane and Finch are further away from most people’s awareness. Neither neighbourhood is in the downtown core. For the record, how if a white women is found in an alley in Parkdale or Regent’s Park per week, as result of a drug overdose or a brutal john, do you think anyone cares? Nope.
Saying that poeple only cared about Jane Creba because she is white is not only ignorant, it is insensitive, opportunistic and poorly timed. Y’all are so obssessed with skin colour, it makes me wonder who’s the racist now?
Regardless, why do YOU think this hysteria was not present when Jason Huxtable died last summer or Chantal Dunn died this winter?
R.I.P Jane
Not only was Creba killed but 6 others were injured dont you think thats gona make bigger news than say only one person killed by a shooting ? doesnt matter on the race!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZSrzWsXOSk&search=jane%20creba
I personally believe that the Jane Creba shooting received far more attention than most if not all other ethnic shooting deaths. It is not location and/or number of people injured or were present as some have suggested; my daughter’s (black) classmate was shot in the eye on a bus on Jane St. Do you think more people can relate to being innocently shot on a bus than on Yonge St?
We all see the world relative to our personal experiences and backgrounds. I’ve had many conversations about this issue with many of my closest friends and it is very difficult for them to see that they are biased. Many however do admit that they do see the ugly face of racism in practically all facets of our society. Racism in Toronto and Canada is alive and well; don’t be fooled.
The black community needs to take most of the responsibility for the escalating violence and the senseless killings of innocent people. This cold, nonchalant, vindictive mentality is unacceptable and needs to be eradicated. The solution is not only stiffer prison sentences but also more equitable law enforcement and social intervention. This is a controversial subject in-of-itself because again, the hardliners are already thinking:
a) There are many poor and displaced people in Toronto who have not resorted to violence
b) Why should we fix “your†problem? If you want to senselessly kill each other, go right ahead just leave “us†out of it.
There would be no “your†or “us†if there was no racism. This is a difficult thing to grasp and only some will ever get it.
Let’s not sit around and wait for people to get it. Let’s start in our sphere of influence, which usually means our homes.
It doesn’t matter who got more ‘coverage’ or ‘attention’ in the media - the truth of the matter is a black man killed an innocent white girl.
No matter how you look at it..race-issue or not..the person in the wrong here was a black man.
So wether, you, the reader are black or white..that same ‘black’ man could have murdered you…