As the hunt for Ardeth Wood's killer continues, the National Capital Commission will be lending free cellphones to users of its recreational pathways, pre-programmed to call 911 in case of emergency.
"We want to encourage as many people as possible to use the recreational pathways and not have our personal freedom limited because of one individual," Guy Laflamme, the NCC's vice-president of communications, told a news conference yesterday.
As of yesterday afternoon, the cellphones -- donated by Rogers AT&T -- could be picked up by bike riders, inline skaters and walkers on the pathways at the Capital Infocentre, the Canada and the World Pavilion and the Centre de plein air du lac Leamy in Gatineau.
Users are required to leave a piece of identification or credit card as security for the phones.
The 60 cellphones are part of a pilot project that will stretch into mid-October and part of a larger safety initiative launched by the NCC after Ms. Wood's slaying.
While the NCC declared its recreational pathways safe, its message yesterday was mixed.
"They are safe, but no one can predict the future," Mr. Laflamme said. "Let's hope and pray this remains an isolated case."
In addition to lending cellphones, Mr. Laflamme said the NCC is still advising women not to travel alone to isolated areas of the pathways. The NCC will also install billboards and signs across the Ottawa region, instructing users on how to increase safety along the pathways.
The number of volunteers who will patrol the eastern segment of the pathway will be increased, with a group of NCC-supported volunteers joining existing NCC conservation and peace officers and RCMP bike patrollers. A similar system exists in the western and Outaouais areas of the region's pathways. In total, the NCC plans to increase the patrolling of its 170 kilometres of recreational trails by 50 per cent, reassigning some of its 26 conservation officers from the parkways to some of the more remote pathways. Special attention will be paid to the area where Ms. Wood was riding her bike before she was killed.
The NCC also plans to hold consultation sessions with groups who have made safety recommendations.
Mr. Laflamme would not say how many additional hours of patrolling would be provided, saying that they don't want to alert "crazy people" to the schedule.
Diane Barbarie, a 27-year-old peace officer with the NCC for the last two years, said she still ventures out onto the pathways alone, despite Ms. Wood's death.
When patrolling, Ms. Barbarie is equipped with a baton and pepper spray, and is one of 12 patrollers who has the authority to make arrests on NCC property. She said she has noticed less traffic along the eastern pathway, which is usually active with early-morning commuters and people exercising before work.
She said she is not aware of any recent attempted abductions or attacks along the pathway.
Michelle Comeau, vice-president of capital lands and parks, agreed.
The new safety measures are intended to protect people from criminal behaviour, said Mr. Laflamme, and as extra security in the event of an accident.
"I hope that as a result, this saves more lives in the future," he said.