Hundreds of residents walked the Ganatchio Trial in solidarity Sunday to show support for Anne Widholm.
Widholm remains in critical condition since a brutal-attack left her unconscious and bleeding on the trail in the early morning hours Sunday Oct. 8. Exactly one-week-later the 75-year-old has yet to regain consciousness and a 21-year-old Windsor man has been arrested in relation to the unprovoked assault.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced the walk to show support for Widholm and, "reassure each other that our community stands together as one in times of distress, and to reaffirm our community's parks and trails are safe."
Dilkens call was answered, people flocked to the Little River Rd. entrance to the trail, not far from where the assault took place.
Hundreds of people gather on the Ganatchio trial in support of assault victim Anne Widholm. #cklw pic.twitter.com/wPIeNEwUr1
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) October 15, 2017
Ward 7 councillor Irek Kusmierczyk says the turnout is a testament to strong bonds in the community.
"A lot of folks have good reasons to be elsewhere and yet you have hundreds of people that decided, on a Sunday, where it looks like it's going to rain, to come out here," he says.
Kusmierczyk tells AM800 News police have maintained open dialogue on safety in east-Windsor, and Dilkens statements are backed by statistics.
With the Neighbourhood Watch in attendance at the walk to inform residents on how they can help, Kusmierczyk says public safety is a team effort.
"Ward 7 and east-Riverside is one of the safest communities in Windsor," he says. "When something like this happens it's not just the Windsor Police Services, it's not just our first responders, but the whole community rallys' around and protects each other, we look after each other here."
Talks are already underway to try and make parks and neighbourhoods safer whether they have a high-crime-rate or not, he added.
"What can we do to make our parks safer? Perhaps emergency call boxes, potentially getting way-finding signage here so that if somebody is injured, if somebody is hurt, if somebody is attacked, our first responders in a large park like this will know exactly where to find this person who's in distress," says Kusmierczyk.
Several council members joined representatives from Windsor police and Windsor Fire and Rescue for the walk.