Only in Winnipeg

I moved to Winnipeg in 1999, and although I've been here for 14 years this September I don't consider myself from Winnipeg. Mostly as a distinction to avoid confusion, as Winnipeg is a close-knit city where many people relate to each other by asking a couple of simple questions - What area of the city are you from? Where did you go to high school? A couple of nods, a couple of names dropped, and Winnipeggers have the ability to know five or so of your cousins, or even possibly be a cousin. I don't dislike Winnipeg. I never really identified with it as my hometown, but recent events have made me so, so proud of it that I've become pleased to be a part of it. The tragic and devastating story of Lisa Gibson, driven to the depths of despair and dark tunnels of post-partum psychosis ending in the ultimate horror of taking her children's lives and afterwards her own, has shaken Winnipeg to the core. It's just not something you'd think would put Winnipeg on the map. However, right from the start, a compassion and understanding in the media and citizens of our city could be seen. A pace was set by our police force, adamant that Lisa's welfare was a top priority. Not a witch hunt, but a hope of finding her unharmed so she could be helped. There were no accusations of murder, no campaigns to find her when she was missing and bring her to justice, only a heart-hurting and sorrowful cry from the masses that feel that somehow, despite not knowing her, we all failed her and her beautiful babies.

We failed one of our own. An anguish was occurring amongst us and we never knew. I wept, not only for Lisa and her children but for those that weep around me.

A few Winnipeg Free Press columnists have questioned the public's mercy on this woman, wondering where the compassion was for Vince Li, the schizophrenic who beheaded a sleeping passenger on a Greyhound bus just outside city limits. Or if our gestures of peace and understanding for Lisa would have been the same had she not been white, middle-class and well-educated. Or, quite darkly, accused the public of only being sympathetic because she took her own life after. Motives have been contemplated, criticised and pondered upon. Cynicism is running quite rampant - not for Lisa herself, but for those that dare to mourn who may not mourn for others.

So, I ask, does it matter? Why cheapen the incredible heart of this city with wondering what could have made people care a little less? Why use a public position to criticise people for possibly not caring the same amount had a hypothetical situation occurred instead of the very real tragedy that was faced last week?

Shame on you, columnists. Stop whining about empathy equality and embrace the love and responsiveness this city had for one of its own, and see how this is the start, how this can help someone in need right now, somewhere. This isn't about Lisa being the right kind of woman, its about our city being the right kind of place for women - and in our world, we could use a lot more of that. The reaction was a very unique one, one you won't find anywhere, so with that I can say Only In Winnipeg - and for once, it is out of pride.