Mysterious tape dummies hang from High Level Bridge suicide barriers
Roberta Bell, Kyle Muzyka | CBC News | Posted: August 7, 2016 8:34 PM | Last Updated: August 8, 2016
City of Edmonton not sure where figures came from or reason behind the installation
Imagine enjoying a morning walk across the High Level Bridge and seeing human-shaped figures hanging off the new suicide barriers.
That's exactly what many Edmontonians were subjected to Sunday morning — intricately-built tape dummies holding onto the barriers.
At least four figures were spread across the bridge's barriers. Someone took two of the figures down in the morning and the City of Edmonton removed the remaining two Sunday afternoon.
Most of the details surrounding the display remain a mystery. City officials were not clear on the purpose of the dummies or who was responsible for installing them on the barriers.
All that is known is that the dummies were not the work of the Edmonton Arts Council.
Figures hinge on controversy
The suicide barriers were approved two years ago and installed last September. In 2014, several councillors said they decided to install the barriers after hearing personal stories from people who lost loved ones on the bridge.
The barriers have proven to be controversial because they narrow the path and force cyclists and pedestrians to vie for space. Entire sides of the bridge were closed during the barriers' installation.
However, those who lost people from suicide on the bridge believe they are working.
"I'm not naive, I know there are some people who are in a state of distress that are going to end their lives, but there are others who are in the moment distressed and this bridge for the last 40 years has been the place to go," said Dan Klemke.
"The people who are impulsive in the moment, this will stop them, which is good."
The suicide barriers are just part of the city's suicide prevention plan.
"This is the beginning for a city (that) is willing to name this for what it is: an epidemic," said Kris Andreychuk of the city's citizen services department at an event in July.
Klemke, whose wife Marilyn died by jumping off the High Level bridge, said he thinks suicide needs to be talked about.
"If people are suffering in silence, bad things happen."
Sculptures send 'powerful' message
Many Edmontonians passing by the sculptures were skeptical at first.
Nashid Shaker thought it was an art experiment to gauge people's reactions. She said she thought the figures were a little weird, but added that "it's still kind of cool. It's still artistic. It's still someone expressing themselves."
Bridget Toms saw the figures while she was driving by.
"We parked and walked back down," she said. "I think it's really powerful."
Toms says she knows people who have attempted suicide from the bridge before the barriers were installed, and doesn't find the sculptures disrespectful.
Jon Hoffman was cycling past and stopped to take a photo of one of the figures.
It's important that people know that there's many people that care about them. - Jon Hoffman
Hoffman said he had gone through some emotional turmoil last year, so attended a support group. There, he heard from people who had attempted suicide at the bridge.
"I've taken a step down from this kind of cage," he said. "It's important that people know that there's many people that care about them."
Hoffman hopes the figures had an effect on those that saw it.
"I don't know if it's an exhibit or if it's here for five minutes, but I hope that a few people see it."
If you or someone you know are experiencing a crisis, call the CMHA's distress line at 780-482-HELP (4357).