Taxi drivers commemorated the life of Ahmed Mahamud Ali, a longtime cab driver killed while on the job last month, by taking to the streets of Yellowknife for a procession on Monday afternoon.
A long line of taxis, driven by employees of both Aurora Taxi and City Cab, snaked along Franklin Avenue from the procession's starting point at the Community Arena – where dozens and dozens of drivers parked their vehicles in rows before hitting the road – and ended at Rotary Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_VIFpRdOYQ
Ali, who colleagues and friends affectionately referred to as “Uncle Ahmed,” was pronounced dead in the early hours of Nov. 19 after being found unconscious in the backseat of his cab outside of Stanton Territorial Hospital.
The loss of Ali has been “felt throughout the ranks of the city’s taxi drivers,” stated Shirley McGrath, City Cab general manager, in a news release issued last week.
Two men have been charged with murder in connection with his death.
In sending off their former colleague and friend, the tight-knit community of city drivers sent a message, too.
“Yellowknife, we're human, too,” said Phil Bailey, a 32-year veteran taxi driver who took time off from his other job to be part of something “important” on Monday.
“We're out here trying to make a living, and to be in a job where, at any time, there could violence against you – it's a sad situation,” added Bailey.
Bailey said residents of Yellowknife need to know “(taxi drivers) are an important part of this community.”
“We deserve to be treated with respect, just like anyone else.”
Bailey added that while picking up unruly or intoxicated passengers is part of the job, becoming a victim of violence is not.
Paul, a taxi driver who declined to give his last name, echoed Bailey's sentiment.
“We're supposed to be respected the same way we respect (passengers),” said Paul.
Paul said people and passengers often think of cab driving as a “lowly job.”
“It's not,” he said.
“We drive them from point A to point B. It's not come back and get killed,” added Paul, underscoring many of the frustrations drivers feel following Ali's death.
At a court appearance of one of the accused in Ali's death last month, a frustrated cab driver called for more to be done to ensure the safety of Yellowknife's taxi drivers.
Asked if law enforcement could reduce the risks faced by cabbies on the road, Paul said police responding to emergency calls can often take too long to get there.
In the wake Ali's death, new security measures will be coming to City Cab vehicles in a matter of weeks.
McGrath announced last week that City Cab would hand out paid-for wearable “panic buttons” to drivers. The device, which emits a loud noise when pressed, is meant to get the attention of passing drivers in the event of an emergency situation.
Updates will also be coming to in-car software in a bid to make contacting dispatch easier in the event of an assault or violent incident.
A funeral for Ali was held in Edmonton last month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt_LiH9FE-c&feature=youtu.be