Mark Poodlat was a peacemaker.
If there was a dispute on the streets of Yellowknife, he would be there to mediate.
SA国际影视传媒淚f we had a problem, heSA国际影视传媒檇 come and find a solution to figure it out,SA国际影视传媒� Poodlat's friend of 10 years, who wished to remain anonymous, told Yellowknifer outside the city's joint sobering centre and day shelter on Friday afternoon.
Just days earlier, on the same block, Poodlat, 36, was punched repeatedly in an attack caught on video.
He was medevaced to an Edmonton hospital, where he later died, confirmed Thursday.
Yellowknife have charged 32-year-old Victor Ugyuk with murder in relation to his death.
Mark Poodlat, 36, is being remembered by friends as funny and hardworking, someone who would often act as peacemaker on the streets of Yellowknife. A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder after Poodlat was beaten outside the city's sobering centre and day shelter on Tuesday.
On a quiet Friday afternoon outside the downtown sobering centre and day shelter, many of Poodlat's friends were asking: why?
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know why they had to do that to him. Out of nowhere, heSA国际影视传媒檚 just taken away from us,SA国际影视传媒� said Timothy Base, a friend who met Poodlat five years ago.
Yellowknifer spoke to several individuals outside of the joint day shelter and sobering centre who said a dispute over a bike led to the fatal assault on Tuesday.
SA国际影视传媒淥ver a bike?SA国际影视传媒� asked Base.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey had to take my friendSA国际影视传媒檚 life? That was unnecessary and now heSA国际影视传媒檚 gone.SA国际影视传媒�
Base said substance abuse issues in the downtown that fuel violence seem to be worsening.
SA国际影视传媒淎lcohol and drugs, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 it. Simple,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
"They had to take my friend's life? That was unnecessary and now he's gone," said Timothy Base.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome of (the street population) need counselling but they donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to admit it. It gets worse and worse,SA国际影视传媒� said Base.
Asked whether or not he thinks increased security patrols near the joint sobering centre and day shelter, along with more surveillance cameras, could help reduce violence and prevent something like this from happening again, Base said shelter staff are doing what they can.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey are on a tight budget SA国际影视传媒� but they try their best,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey canSA国际影视传媒檛 be around all the time.SA国际影视传媒�
In July, two SA国际影视传媒渟afety patrol officersSA国际影视传媒� were hired to patrol the homeless shelter and the surrounding area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In daily shifts that are broken down into two six-hour blocks, patrollers cover a route that includes the sobering centre and day shelter, the alleyway behind the facility, the corner of 50 Street and 51 Avenue, where Reddi Mart is located, along with the downtown pop-up park and the parking lot behind Northern News Services, according to Lisa Giovanetto, communications officer at the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority.
In security camera footage that captured the deadly assault, no patrol officers were visible at the scene.
In an email to Yellowknifer, Giovanetto stated regular patrols were happening on Tuesday, when the attack occurred, but added further details couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be released as the homicide case is now before the courts.
On whether or not security changes could be coming to the facility, Giovanetto told Yellowknifer the incident is being reviewed and that it would be SA国际影视传媒減remature to speculate on if changes will be made and what they would be, however we will ensure that appropriate steps are taken if changes are required.SA国际影视传媒�
Another client of the sobering centre and day shelter, who asked to remain anonymous, said she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 believe what happened to Poodlat, a friend of two-and-a-half years who SA国际影视传媒渄oesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make trouble.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淗e was hard working. He was kind-hearted,SA国际影视传媒� the young woman told Yellowknifer.
SA国际影视传媒�(Mark) always had good jokes and he always made us laugh,SA国际影视传媒� she recalled.
The woman said she thinks SA国际影视传媒渢hereSA国际影视传媒檚 enough camerasSA国际影视传媒� already.
She said the security officers who began patrolling the neighbouring this summer SA国际影视传媒渄o what they can,SA国际影视传媒� adding the program is a SA国际影视传媒渞eally good thing.SA国际影视传媒�
Base said everyone on the street looks out for each other.
SA国际影视传媒淚f someone gets hurt, we help,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Base said he understands are often tied up with other day-to-day duties, but that he wishes officers would patrol the 50 Street area more SA国际影视传媒� not just after something serious happens, like a fight.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey got to do their own job, but it would be nice,SA国际影视传媒� said Base.
Making the sign of the cross, Base sent a final message to his friend.
SA国际影视传媒淚 miss you. I love you. Wherever you are, please pray for me, my friend. Mahsi Cho.SA国际影视传媒�
