Bruised Brampton

Bruised Brampton

May 1, 2008 @ 10:16

My heart sunk yesterday when I heard of the double murder/ attempted suicide in Brampton, not far from where I live.

It must have been a horrible scene as a man plunged a knife into a woman, and then did the same thing to a good Samaritan who tried to help her out. After killing those two, he started to slice his own throat before police arrived a tasered him.

A horrible incident that could have happened anywhere, but something that puts another knife into the heart of Brampton.

It's another one of those things that will leave non residents of Brampton shaking their heads this morning, thankful that they don't live here.

I don't think I have to explain the reputation that Brampton has acquired over the past several years, much like Scarborough. And much like Scarborough, it's undeserved.

I've made the point before, Brampton gets tagged with a lot of what it doesn't deserve because the Peel Court House is located here, and whenever anything happens its usually reported with the tag line "in Brampton Court."

It could happen anywhere in Mississauga and Caledon, but it always comes back to Brampton because of that damn court house.

I've lived in Brampton for close to 30 years now, and I can only tell you that its been a fabulous place to raise a family and continues to be a safe and peaceful community.

I don't know exactly what happened at that Brampton Mall yesterday, I don't even think the police know at this point.

What I do know is that Brampton dropped a couple more notches in public opinion yesterday and it's getting to the point where its reputation is probably beyond the point of recovery.

Sad, but true.

Category: Stuff

8 Responses to "Bruised Brampton"

Pete McPhedran
May 1, 2008 / 12:34

Freddie,

Don't worry about it, almost all crime that happens within a 100km radius of Toronto is attributed to Toronto, out side of the GTA except the town where the crime actually happened.

My family lives 330 KMs from Toronto and "everything" happens here as far as they are concerned. When I explain that some crime happened in Brampton, Whitby or Barrie, and tell them it's an hours drive away they get it. Then they relate it to something happening in London and they live in Sarnia, and hours drive away.

Stuff happens everywhere, Brampton still sucks, despite a double murder/attempted suicide ;-) At least you don't have Miller!

--Pete

Chris Jones
May 1, 2008 / 14:10

Hi Fred,

I've been a resident of Brampton sine 1992, I was just a kid back then but I've grown up and am now raising a family in this town that I have grown to love.

I agree with you that this is a safe and great place to live and raise a family. I don't think I could ask for a better place.

That strip mall is one street over from where my son used to have soccer practices and it certainly shocked me to find that out, even more shocking is that someone coming to this womans aid was struck down as well.

It saddens me to hear this type of news in my beloved town but I'm not giving up and I hope this doesn't tarnish the image of the city myself and so many others love.

Argie
May 1, 2008 / 14:13

Fred: Its not just a perception; it’s a reality. The numbers of murders in Peel (Brampton & Miss.) has increased dramatically over the past few years. So far this year they have almost as many murders as they do in Toronto – despite being about a third of the population.

My guess is that a lot of criminals from the North West part of Toronto (Rexdale, Jane & Finch) have migrated to Peel. Its only going to get worse.

James Edgar
May 1, 2008 / 14:59

AM 640 just emailed me and it appears it was random act and the the victoms were husband and wife. Sad . Just were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Nigel Trousershrapnel
May 1, 2008 / 15:09

Don't pity Brampton.
Pity the poor bastard who stood up to do the right thing and paid the ultimate price. Ten years from now Brampton will still be with us (boring as ever). The gentleman who intervened will not.

PartyPooper
May 1, 2008 / 16:08

I just heard on the radio that the two victims were husband and wife and that the a$$hole who attacked them was out on bail.
Don't worry about Brampton Freddie, worry about the justice system.
Unreal.

RIckyP
May 2, 2008 / 10:01

So far in 2008, Peel regions per capita murder rate is approximately 50% higher than Toronto.

Since the suspect was out on bail, I wonder if this is another example of the courts releasing a person who should have been held in custody.

Charles
May 5, 2008 / 22:26

Fred
What part of Brampton do you live in? I guessing not Springdale.
Like most towns it has it good and bad areas.
I really like the older area west of Grange Park off of HWY 10.
But there are many areas of Brampton and Bramlea I would not care to live in.
Just as there are parts of Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington that have sections of less desirable neighbours,

For me the Brampton Court house is not an contributing factor to Brampton images issue.

As for the ethnic component to the Bramptom image most new Canadians want to come here and work hard. Ther are some welfare cheats and hood. Just as their are in Canadians who have been here for generations.
Best thing about new Canadians is the wonderful cuisine they expose us to.

I do however believe that some of the scumbag hoods from Rexdale Jane/Finch and other parts of T.O. are moving west to Peel. Just look at our current homicide stats. I think we should pay them to move to Caledon and freak out the white folks up there who never see a person of colour.

Traffic does suck big time in Brampton.

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