In Ottawa’s neighbourhoods with a moderately high socio-economic status, crime rates remain the lowest. However, this does not guarantee safety or security. Ottawa Yes takes a closer look at the most notorious crimes that have taken place in Canada’s capital. These are stories that remain difficult to talk about.
ByWard Market
Lively, bustling, filled with people and conversations—this is what comes to mind when thinking about ByWard Market. However, an event in 1990 changed everything.
On September 30, 1990, the body of Melinda Shépitt was found strangled in a parking lot on Murray Street. The news shook the public, as her killer was never caught.
A few days before the tragic event, the 16-year-old girl called her family, expressing her desire to return to Toronto.
At 14, she lived with her parents, sister, and two brothers in Oakville, enjoying her teenage years. Later, her father, Peter Shépitt, got a job as a security guard in Ottawa, and the whole family moved to Hunt Club. In 1989, Melinda’s parents separated, and her mother took the younger children back to Oakville. Melinda and her brother Michael decided to stay in Canada’s capital a little longer.
Difficult Circumstances
Three weeks before her murder, Melinda Shépitt turned to prostitution. What led a girl from a good family to such a fate?
She was desperate and had no idea what to do next. At that time, she was two months pregnant and chose prostitution to earn at least some money.
Her friends later recalled that Melinda was terrified. On one side, she was under pressure from her ex-boyfriend, and on the other—from a violent pimp who demanded $600 per night.
The last time Melinda was seen was at the corner of Dalhousie Street and Clarence Street. A homeless man found the body of the 16-year-old girl.
The Crime of Claude Bourguignon
In June 1989, Sergeant Alan Winsor, along with several officers, searched for a missing child—Paul Bourguignon Jr..
During the search, he noticed a suspicious box in a dumpster near the boy’s house. Inside, there was a green bag bearing clear signs of violence.
Police first reported Paul missing at 8 a.m. on June 2, 1989. The night before, a dispute over custody had taken place. That evening, the boy’s father left him with his uncle and his uncle’s girlfriend. Paul was never seen alive again.
Following the murder, 30 detectives arrived in the neighbourhood. The autopsy revealed a horrifying truth: the boy had been physically and sexually assaulted before being strangled with a leather belt.
Three months after the tragic events and the start of the investigation, his uncle Claude was charged with murder, and two years later, he was convicted in Barrie court.
Maximum Public Outcry
Due to intense public attention, the trial was postponed multiple times. This was one of Ottawa’s first high-profile cases where DNA evidence was used. Paul’s bed contained his uncle’s semen, which became a crucial piece of evidence in court.
Claude Bourguignon was sentenced to life in prison.
The Disappearance and Murder of Ardeth Wood
The parents of Ardeth Wood still remember August 6, 2003, when their daughter went for a bike ride in the afternoon and never returned.
Living in Orleans (a suburb of Ottawa), she chose a route along Rockcliffe Parkway. Unfortunately, she encountered a killer along the way.
Her disappearance became one of the most shocking cases in Ottawa’s history. For five days, she was considered missing, until an extensive search led to the discovery of her body in a dense forest near Green Creek’s shore.
After this event, locals became afraid to walk or cycle alone, and police increased patrols on trails to reassure residents.
Confession and Conviction
In 2008, Chris Myers confessed to the crime. He sexually assaulted and drowned Ardeth, committing several other crimes against women. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Voices in the Head
This story sent shock and fear through the local community. In August 1995, 54-year-old Brian Smith was on his way to a public event. Well-known and beloved in Ottawa, he was the familiar face who regularly appeared at sports events and was widely recognized in the city. However, that day in a parking lot, he was confronted by Jeff Arenburg, a paranoid schizophrenic, who fatally shot him. Arenburg claimed he heard “voices in his head” that wouldn’t stop.
Smith was a public figure who tragically found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brian Ford, who served as Ottawa’s police chief at the time, stated that it was impossible to predict or prevent such an attack.
At Smith’s funeral, over 2,000 people gathered inside St. Patrick’s Basilica, with hundreds more standing outside on Kent Street. Flags at the Lynx Stadium in Lansdowne Park were lowered to half-mast as the city mourned his loss. Residents of Ottawa and Smith’s friends contributed to a memorial fund through the Boys and Girls Club.
Remembering Smith
Thanks to the efforts of local senators, a media hall was named Smitty’s Place in his honour. They donated $20,000 to create a scholarship fund for young people pursuing careers in journalism and athletics.
The Brian Smith Fund was established to raise money and help children attend summer camps. However, the fund was eventually dissolved, and all remaining donations were transferred to the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club. Since then, the club has operated under the name Camp Smitty.
Arenburg was found not criminally responsible for Smith’s murder due to his mental illness and was committed to a high-security psychiatric hospital in Penetanguishene, Ontario. After completing his treatment, he was released and returned to Ottawa in 2014.
Of course, this list of crimes could go on. Some perpetrators were brought to justice, while others were never held accountable. These incidents gained widespread public attention and left a lasting impact on the community.
