As local police continue their investigation into a sexual assault along a busy city trail, Burnaby’s mayor is open to making safety improvements if recommended.
Derek Corrigan said the city would look at any recommendations that come from the RCMP related to the recent attack.
“If they can see something we can do, we’ll be very interested in following up with it,” he told the NOW, noting any discussion would be through the city’s public safety committee. “In a city that has as much open and green space as we do, it’s impossible to light the whole city.”
The incident happened last Thursday (Feb. 18) when a woman, walking along a path on the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail around 12:40 p.m., was approached by a man and sexually assaulted.
The woman was taken to hospital for treatment.
Police said the incident happened off the main trail on a smaller path that connects to Government Street. The suspect fled into the bushes toward Lougheed Mall.
The NOW spoke to several people in the neighbourhood the following day who said they don’t feel safe or will only use the trail with a partner.
Corrigan said if there is something the city can do to make people feel safer he’d be for it, but also cautioned in some cases changes like lighting can draw people into areas they shouldn’t be and provide a false sense of security.
“You can’t have a city that’s 25 per cent park and that is environmentally protecting a significant part of the city and not have areas where it can be unsafe for people to go in late at night,” he said, adding the city is always looking at design principles that improve safety.
Earlier this week, Mounties said local Mounties confirmed investigators had received “a large number of tips” in the case and continue to follow up on all leads.
However, no arrests have been made in the case.
Police are asking anyone with information about the suspect or the case to call Burnaby RCMP’s Serious Crime Section at 604-294-7922.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian man with a slim build, standing five feet seven-inches tall, balding and between the ages of 40 and 50-years-old. He was wearing black gloves, a grey hoodie, black jacket, black Adidas runners with green writing, and grey sweat pants that had very muddy cuffs.
