Goodbye Dawn
At some point we need to talk about what to do to make things better. Today is not the day for that. Today I want to talk about Dawn Ling.
I knew the Lings… not well enough to know them by name, but if you live in the West end of Guelph you know the Lings as well. He is tall and slim, she was shorter and slower; together they walked everywhere and everywhere they walked together.
I would often see them walk through the condo complex I live in, walking along the river path between the West End Recreation Center and where they lived further down Paisley Road. I remember speaking more with Dave (who was always waiting for his wife) than Dawn. (who was always hustling to keep up with the longer legs of her husband) We never said much, casual greetings for the most part; however it was enough to know them as a part of the community I live in.
I feel an incredible sense of mourning considering I didn’t really know them that well. I think it’s because I always imagined that they loved each other a great deal. He loved her enough to always wait for her to catch up; she loved him enough to always charge forward knowing her husband would be there for her when she arrived.
I can’t imagine what Dave is going through and I wish him and his family the best during this difficult time. If it helps at all, I will do the best I can to put in motion the changes necessary so that this tragedy won’t happen to another family.
Dawn Doreen Ling, 53, was killed Sunday trying to cross a very popular (albeit unauthorized) railway crossing between Paisley Road and Margaret Greene Park.
August 6th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Mike, I’ve read your article regarding making this (Illegal) crossing safer. I’d like to discuss this matter with you at a mutual convienient time. On behalf of my family THANK YOU for the kind portrayal of this couple that lived in your neighbourhood
Regards
Doug & Judy Kennedy
August 16th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Hello Mike,
Having lived in the complex as your neighbour, I remember Dawn very well myself, and was upset to hear of her tragic death.
I read your article “Good bye Dawn” and I thought it was so kind and truly showed that you are a Councilor appointed by the people for the people, and I am very proud to call you my friend.
I also remember that there needs to be safer crossings in this area as there is a lot of pedestrian traffic on their way to the West End Recreation Centre, and the Imperial Road Zehrs.
Now that the Zehrs plaza in undergoing expansion, the area definitely needs to be updated to make it a safer place for pedestrians utilizing this area.
I think that as a community that has become a strong leader in recycling and other environmental issues along with the worldwide focus on preventing further damage to our beautiful planet and strong encouragement to reduce emissions and improve air quality by car pooling, riding our bikes and walking as much as possible, one of the first steps is to update neighbourhoods creating safe walking and bike paths to do so.
Sincerely,
Jenifer Forbes