Residents of Quebec City’s St-Roch neighbourhood are angry and worried after Guy Blouin was run over by a police cruiser.
On Thursday, they congregated at the parvise, or courtyard, of St-Roch Church, the area’s namesake. They lit candles, sang songs and wrote down their messages for Blouin, who died in hospital several hours after being hit on Wednesday afternoon.
“The police are stealing lives,” read their signs.
Thursday's vigil brought several dozen people to the area; another vigil is planned for Friday at 1 p.m. ET.
St-Roch’s parish priest, Msgr. Jean Piché said residents have worked hard to make the area a welcoming one, and that this incident may reignite previous tensions with police.
“People from all backgrounds, all lifestyles accept each other mutually and live together in a certain harmony. There have also been efforts to foster a certain trust between the police and the people who frequent the parvise of the church and this event risks putting that into question,” Piché said.
Heavily patrolled area
Diane Tremblay has lived in St-Roch for six years.
She said she volunteers in the neighbourhood and has heard about, and witnessed, terse encounters between residents and police.
St-Roch is home to a number of itinerant people and individuals with drug issues.
“Me, I’m 61 years old, and all the times that I come here — and I live in this neighbourhood — I’m scared to be asked for my identification for no reason,” Tremblay said.
“It’s been six years that I’ve lived around here, and the police are always walking around, asking people for their identification. I think the citizens have had enough of that.”
Residents deeply touched by Blouin’s death issued calls for justice.
"We don’t understand what happened, said Michelle Paradis. She went to the parvise to sign the memorial book with lyrics to one of her favourite songs, Si Fragile.
“Justice has to be done,” Paradis said.