My day at the office
Well, where do I begin?
First, my apologies for not posting a little sooner. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon outside near de Maisonneuve/Atwater, making and receiving countless phone calls, checking voicemail, talking to people and trying to help out by getting people pushed back farther away toward Lambert Closse. I finally decided it was time to go home around 3:15PM and walked to the Lionel Groulx Metro station where it was thankfully working in my direction. Once home, I fielded even more phone calls and tried to catch up on what the news was saying.
Trying to gather my thoughts over the last couple of hours, I’ve decided that I’m not going to bother with posting hourly updates. I don’t know anything more than what the news reports are saying. I’ll leave that sort of thing to my fellow Metbloggers, unless I have something of value to add.
My intention is to relay what I saw/heard and what I know as fact. I will also hopefully be posting, over the next couple of days, stories of some of my colleagues and other people that I will be talking to… if they are willing to share.
My story after the jump. (Be warned, it’s a little lengthy)
At approx. 12:45PM, I heard a few loud “pops” and thought little of it until I started hearing a stampede of students yelling and screaming, running past one of the entrances to my work area. It wasn’t the usual loud noises of joyful students playing around in the hallways, so I opened the door and asked one student what was going on and he nervously informed me that someone was shooting in the upper atrium. I then told the few remaining students in that hallway to continue in the direction they were heading and exit the building and then I shut that door (which is a side door to the print shop).
I then went to speak to a coworker to see if he knew anything, he knew nothing more than I did. He and I, along with a handful of other folks in the print shop were just kind of listening to more gunshots and screaming, trying to figure out what to do next because the shots were getting louder, therefor closer. A few other stragglers entered my area for safety and I was “manning the door” with yet another colleague while the others (approx. 12 people) were taking cover in the back area, out of view form the main door.
My colleague then spotted a young girl looking for cover in the hallway and ran out to help her. There was another gun shot as he got the student to the ground… he was hit in the shoulder and ran back to the print shop. I have no idea what happened to the student, I don’t know if he knows either. He will be fine, I’m no expert on bullet wounds, but it looked like it went straight through.
We then all took cover in the back area as there were a few more random gun shots heard and we can see people moving past the door, which was now closed and locked, though it’s a big glass sliding door, not a whole lot of protection, but it was all we had. We were all very unsure if it was safe or not yet to try and flee, we couldn’t see the door well enough to tell whether it was police, the gunner(s) or bystanders passing by. Finally one of the other guys with us got through to police (cellphone reception is terrible within the college) to let them know we had someone that had been shot. They confirmed that they would get to us A.S.A.P. All in all, we were holed up for the better part of an hour until an officer finally came to our door as he waited for reinforcements to arrive, which didn’t take too much longer. They asked us to get out, one by one with our hands raised as they had their guns drawn (but pointing to the ground).
As we were running through the upper atrium, toward the de Maisonneuve doors, I looked over to my left and saw a relatively long trail of blood which led to the same exit doors we were heading for. The trail looked as if is was from someone that had been dragged outside. Hopefully that person is OK. Edit: Turns out that was the shooter, Kimveer Gill‘s blood after being shot by police.
Once outside, we were told to keep to the left and to follow the wall, heading for Atwater. The colleague that got shot in the shoulder got loaded into an ambulance and presumably taken to a hospital. After hanging around on the corner of de Maisonneuve and Atwater for a short time, people that were on Atwater, in front of Alexis Nihon, started running frantically in any which way they could. It seemed as though the gunner(s) were in the Plaza, but everything calmed down momentarily, my guess is that it was a false alarm, simply people panicking.
The rest of the time, as I said, was spent consoling with friends and colleagues, answering questions and hoping my cellphone battery would have enough juice to last the rest of the day.
I’ll post more as I know more or if anything else comes to mind, I’m still sorting through todays events in my mind.
I am profoundly relieved that you got out ok and you friend appears to be one of many heros of the day. I spent most of the afternoon with this strange “feeling” that somebody I knew was working at Dawson but coudn’t quite nail it down. I attributed it to a colleague who works across the street but another neuron was telling me it was more than that.
Hey Jay, what an account and ordeal. Hope you are able to find some peace and that sleep tonight can be possible.
What a horrific day! It seems like it should have been an account of a war zone and not somewhere in beautiful Canada. Take care, and know that we’re thinking of you here to the south.
Jay, so glad you are OK, and what a terrible story to have to tell. Very glad your friend is OK as well.
Glad to see you come through unscathed. A similar incident happened at my university (Monash, Australia) a few years ago. A co-worker of mine lost her boyfriend in the attack. So for whats its worth – I know exactly how you feel.
That is one scary ordeal… Is this the first school shooting in Montreal or even in Canada?
Thank God you are okay. I pray that everyone else lives through the night. What an experience to live through. I’m sure grief counselling will be very necessary for all of you. (((((hugs)))))))
Unfortunately Peter this is not our first time. In comparison, today was “almost nothing”.
See:
The Polytechnique massacre
and
Valery Fabrikant
Thanks for sharing. And I know it probably will help you too… Getting it out of your system… Telling your story.
Thanks for all of your concerns and wishes everyone. It means more than you may think.
Peter, sadly it’s not the first time, Andre beat me to it for posting a couple of links (thanks Andre!). And he’s right, today was not one of the most tragic days in our history. In fact, we have one of the worlds most advanced bomb squads because of events that happened decades ago (not related to today in any way, shape or form, just noting that “we’ve seen some shit”)
Things like this should simply not happen, anywhere. Period. But they do and it amazes me how people come together and cope with it, all things considered.
thanks for sharing.
I may write more about this later, once the details are released, but it appears that some of the lessons of the Polytechnique were well learned. Back then the killer was allowed to act unchallenged for 45 minutes while a perimeter could be secured. Today the cops seemed to have immediately entered the building.
There is currently a press conference on RDI, Richard Fillion, the Director General of Dawson College, is there.
Jay, good to hear you’re doing okay. You never know how you’re going to react under pressure like that until it happens. Good to hear you’re one of the ones that continues on with a good head on your shoulders.
Thanks for reminding us–all of us–that there are very real people behind the headlines we read. My thoughts are with you, your colleagues, and your students.
I’ll be posting about the news conference shortly.
Wow, what a harrowing account. I’m glad you are safe and sound.
Jay, I’m glad to hear that you’re ok. I remembered reading from your profile that you worked at Dawson and I was hoping that you were ok and that you would post something to let us know.
Jay, that’s quite an amazing recollection of the events. Glad you walked away unharmed.
Wow Jay! What a horrible day but am so happy to see that you are ok. I just can’t even begin to imagine what was flying thru your head during those moments..Hugss
Jay, the trail of blood you saw was the gunner’s/killer’s… He was shot inside by policemen then dragged outside. See images on LCN.
Wow! I just saw the report on CBC and went to check Montreal Metblog to discover a first-hand account from “one of our own.”
People like you and your friend are bright lights on a dark day.
Sleep well tonight, Jay. I’m sure we’ll all be glued here for more news.
Vinny, I saw those pictures. But it’s my understanding that at the time we were being evacuated, they hadn’t yet “neutralized” the shooter. Though that may be wrong… there is still so much uncertainty.
Got here via Boing Boing. Glad to hear you’re okay, and thanks for posting your personal account.
I’m so relieved that you’re okay. After the event last spring, a horrible knot took hold of my stomach this afternoon because even if I can’t get decent Canadian news from down here, I knew CNN had to be on to something when talking about the Atrium. Much too close to you! Thank you for helping those people; you’ve proven once again you’re an exceptional person.
Glad you’re OK, and thanks for writing such a clear, thoughtful description of the situation. I bet your adrenaline and emotions were high, but the description is so vivid. Your friend is a real hero!
Just FYI: The “event” that Christina mentioned was referring to something else that happened to me personally back in May ’06.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. It really puts a sense of reality into the event when you hear it first hand.
Hope everyone is OK.
That’s crazy buddy, so glad you’re safe. You really never can tell what each day will bring can you? Hope you never have to go through anything like that again. I wish nobody had to.
Me and a few friends were in the alexis nihon plaza at metro level. At about 1 pm we heard a “pop” from higher up. The Gazette journalist who was interviewing us ducked and then the group ran towards the other metro exit (the tunnel). I really wonder if that was a false alarm or not…
Personally, I hated myself for not running as fast as I could (I’m not very fit), as if my will to live wasn’t strong enough…
Jay, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It means a lot to hear about what happened via such a personal medium. We’re two girls from Montreal- one went to Dawson- and both of us grew up only blocks away. At the moment, we’re in Northern California. It’s terrible to not be home with people with love and friends we grew up with, and unable to hear much on the news since American networks are barely covering what happened today. We truly appreciate your personal account- this is so scary. Despite what happened at the Ecole Polytechnique years ago, stuff like this just doesn’t fit with the beautiful identity that is Montreal’s. What a terrible, terrible thing. Our thoughts are with you, our friends and families, and most certainly with all the students and employees at Dawson.
Jay, I want to say as others have said how happy I am you and so many others made it through this safely. Its a tragedy there is one death and maybe more will follow given how many were badly injured. Lets hope that this is not the case. My thoughts are with you and all the others that had to suffer such a terrible day.
Ohh … very sad … hoping that everyone’s fine now..!
OMG J. I’m so glad you weren’t hurt. I wish I had more words bud. I’m just glad you weren’t hurt. Hope you’re okay man…
that must’ve been terrible!
im glad your okay….
Jay, thank you for sharing your story with the Metblogging community. Our thoughts are with you, your friends, family, and coworkers during this frightening time.
Glad you and your friend are alright. This is an amazing story.
Jesus, Jay. I’m so glad you’re okay and that your colleague is (relatively speaking) okay as well.
Jay…
Thank you for your post on MetBlogs… My heart is breaking for all of those who had to endure such a senseless tragedy.
Thank you for your first-hand account.
Random. Senseless. Violence.
Hi Jay
I’m a journalist at Le Journal de Montreal
If you take this message early enough today (before 7pm), I’d like to interview you, and maybe also, if it’s possible, you colleague injured by the shooter yesterday at Dawson.
Just send me an email à dsanterre@journalmtl.com
Regards
David Santerre
Journal de Montréal
I’m curious about the cafeteria selected and whether that might reflect a partial motive?
What is the Dawson cafeteria’s official name and what was its nickname?
Jim Lindgren; That’s the part that is bugging me the most about the media. The area in question is in fact NOT a cefeteria. It’s a “hang out” area with a small snackbar (coffee, chips and the like), a bunch of small tables and chairs in a big, open area near the de Maisonneuve entrance, on the 2nd floor. It’s an Atrium. The actual cafeteria is up on the 3rd floor in a totally separate area and it’s nickname is “Atwater market” (I have no idea why).
i was very sad to see that on our TV, here in brazil.
:(
Turn off the T.V and the radio if you have to
don’t read the paper, put on a CD instead.
Laurie
wow…you seemed to capture it pretty well. Glad you and everyone else involved in your story is ok.
I just wish that people would start to realize that some people need help, not to point fingers like the media does at “Goth” culture and websites. I’m on that said website that is gaining popularity for “causing”(amoungst some individuals) the Dawson College actions. I looked around and read up on stuff from both sides. He seemed like a good person but was ostrasized to the point that he hated everything. Nothing was random, it was just not well known because we don’t seem to put emphasis on the true cause of these things, including bullying. I read up on psychology and talk with a lot of different kinds of people. I know what terrible lengths some will go for some things. I just wish everyone else could realize this and move for helping emotional, psychological and social health and wellness. Once again, glad for your safety and to be able to give you side of things.
yeah My step son turn on the television as this happen it curdled my blood and to hear one say I’ don’t” wanna Die” I had felt bad here at this point what had happen in America after the anniversary on 9/11 I was told in 89 and to along the way things had happen like this once before but worse. There some troubled teens who listen to Gothic and sometimes they deal with a lot witch craft as well that goes with it sometimes but all different flavors ( space a good )place or a bad place it made me feel bad here to see what these young adults gone through and plus a young women I saw it all on tva.ca
that was killed by the shooter as he put a lot of stuff on my space.com on msn may be Marion Manson has a lot to do with what he writes but it is sad what he makes for music my space I feel needs to be censored by the younger ppl and must have condition what these ppl put on this Death and violence is what makes life to the extreme with troubled depressed teens at times the loners are the ones who have problems in the house hold I feel children needs to talk to someone if there parent is not listening at times this is me
yeah OK may be it is not Gothic but it has to do with this that has always been the trend here in some small groups. and there is a lot of kids think there better then other some seem to think but it goes to each generation as well No’ child is better from the other there should not be favoritism in school that every child should be treated as the same if he or she is right or wrong sorry about the Gothic never had anyone who I met got into that only see some groups on the street every now and then in Drummondville Canada
Thanks for sharing such a difficult day in your life.
Hey all. If you’d like to check out more first-hand accounts and read up on the shootings, check out carmab.createforum.net It was one harrowing day for all of us that were there.