'I take full responsibility': Cornwall, Ont. mayor responds to woman's death at homeless encampment
CTV
The mayor of the City of Cornwall made a poignant statement Monday in response to the death of a woman in a homeless encampment that has tragically spotlighted the growing issue of homelessness in the city.
The mayor of the City of Cornwall made a poignant statement Monday in response to the death of a woman in an encampment that has tragically spotlighted the growing issue of homelessness in the city.
Mayor Justin Towndale said he "takes full responsibility" for the tragic incident as "it happened on my watch."
"I'm not sure where to begin," Towndale said in the statement.
"This is difficult to attempt to write. I am saddened by the death of Diane Hebert. At this time, I want to offer my sincere condolences to her family and friends. This is a tragedy that should have never happened and it was one that I had hoped to avoid.
A statement by the City of Cornwall on Nov. 5 confirmed a woman died in the homeless encampment in Pointe Maligne Park, along the St. Lawrence River in the city's downtown.
"Unfortunately, an elderly woman living in the homeless encampment passed away this morning," the statement by the City of Cornwall read.
"EMS, fire and police attended the scene, however, the individual was already deceased, and the exact time of death is unknown. While there is no confirmed cause of death at this time, alternate heating sources were found in the tent and will be part of the continued police investigation and post-mortem."
