THUNDER BAY – A notorious and deadly path in the County Fair area of the city is getting a facelift.
More than a dozen volunteers on Thursday spread out along the wooded areas adjacent to the path, where in 2010 the body of a 16-year-old Sachigo Lake teenager was found, her death immediately ruled a homicide.
Earlier this year, the body of 25-year-old Marlon Chookomolin was found along the same path, although police have yet to issue a cause of death.
Lee-Ann Chevrette, co-ordinator of the city’s crime prevention council, said the clean-up is a way to help lessen the danger in the area, while encouraging law-abiding citizens to use the trail and create more activity in a popular gathering spot for transients.
Cleaning up pathways and along local waterways was also a recommendation that last year emerged from an inquiry into the death of seven Indigenous students attending high school in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2011.
“We know there have been some incidents in recent months and in recent years as well. There is an increased vulnerability for people back here because of the isolation and the nature of the trail,” Chevrette said.
The crime prevention council last week brought a patrol of concerned stakeholders along the pathway, resulting in Wednesday’s litter clean-up.
The woods, in some spots, were strewn with layers of garbage, from a pile of discarded newspaper flyers to alcohol bottles and used needles.
“So we know there are some social problems happening in this area. We want to make this space as safe as possible for people, so bringing more community members to take care of the place … to show that we’re going to be monitoring it, I think is really beneficial for everyone,” Chevrette said.
Thunder Bay Police were on board with the project, sending a several officers to help with the effort.
Insp. Sharon Komar, with the department’s community services branch, said the clean-up was long overdue, adding it will go further than just litter pick-up.
“I think later on there will be some representatives from the city, as well as the Ministry of Transportation, doing some cutback, so the bush line won’t be as dense as it is, so the line of sight will be a bit easier to see for any sort of criminal element or any sort of victimization that may be going on,” she said.
“Today is cleaning up and eliminating any sort of graffiti, that sort of stuff.”
Eco-Superior was on hand and provided gloves, pick-up devices and trash bags.
