'A huge loss for Montral-Nord': Shooting victim remembered for bettering community

A day after he was shot and killed, people from the city's Montral-Nordboroughare remembering Jayson Colin as a young man whowas determined to help others in his community.

Smou Diouf saw that commitment firsthand as theproject co-ordinatorfor an organization that works on entrepreneurial projectswith youth in the neighbourhood.

In 2019, he worked with Colin for nearly a year to help him start an organization that would make hockey more accessible and affordable something Diouf saidthe 26-year-oldlonged for but never had growing up.

Diouf who said he is in shock overColin's death described him as ambitious, involved in the community and someone who wanted to use the sport he loved as a springboard to help young people in the area.

"'He really wanted to give to others,"said Diouf, who is also the economic development adviserfor CDEC de Montral-Nord.

"He loved hockey, it was his favourite sport, and he realized that there were difficulties practisingin Montral-Nord because it was too expensive," he added.

"He was very brave. He fought to the end, he believed in his project. He had perseverance, selflessness, he gave all his heart to carry out his project...It's really a huge loss for Montral-Nord."

On Wednesday night, Colin was fatally shot just outsideLester B. Pearson High School.

Police say a group of four people were talking outside the school around 10:20 p.m., when two suspectsapproached and shot at them. Colin was killed andanother man, 25, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Thosesuspects arestill at large.

In the hours following Colin's death, many people, community groups and elected officials took to social media to pay tribute to the 26-year-old and condemn gun violence.

'Radiant, bright, resilient'

In a Facebook post, Christine Black, the borough's mayor, described Colin as being "involved in a 1,001 projects."

She also remembers him as being generous and affable. She said she couldn't believe he'd been the victim of such violence.

"Today our community is in shock over the death of this young man," Black said.

"In Montral-Nord, we have good young people. We have young people who are radiant, bright, resilient, who want to accomplish things and who work hard to do so, and this young man was one of them."

In a tweet, Montreal Mayor Valrie Planteexpressed her condolences for Colin's family, adding that hewas committed and appreciated in his community.

Plante said Montreal police will do everything they can in the investigation.

'When is this all going to stop?'

Throughout the pandemic, reports of gunfire in the city particularly in the east endhave been frequent, and all three levels of government have countered with several initiatives aimed at curbing the violence.

Residents who live near Wednesday'scrime scene say the shooting has made them feel unsafe around their homes.

"For sure Ifeel more in danger. You know Ilike to take walks sometime around the house Iwon't be doing that," saidSujaya Dewanjee, adding the increased violence in the borough is making her consider moving.

Liberal MNA Paule Robitaille, whoseBourassa-Sauv riding encompasses most of Montral-Nord, said the recent shooting is "extremely disturbing."

"While it was happening here, there were also gunshots in Rivire-des-Prairies, right next door.Last week, it was in Laval.It's everywhere ... When is this all going to stop?" she said, pointing to the recent spate of gun violence in and around the city.

Last week, the federal government announced that it will be committing close to $42 million to fight growing gun violence in Quebec.