A pastor who once lived a life of crime is trying to inspire youth in one of Ottawa's most troubled neighbourhoods.
Pastor Asmick Jean-Jacques of Montreal is a free man after spending nine years in prison.
"I was so violent that most of the time I was in solitary confinement in the hole," Jean-Jacques said. "I was locked up 23.5 hours for 30 or 60 days. That was my regime."
He initially met with a pastor as a simple excuse to escape his cell. The meetings changed his life and inspired him to do the same for those who had entered a life of crime - or were tempted.
"I'm just here to tell people that you're probably going through some tough times. Maybe your life doesn't make sense, maybe you think you're just a bad guy, you're trash. But you know ... you can make a difference."
Jean-Jacques spoke to young people living in the Britannia neighbourhood, which is trying to turn negative headlines about crime into a positive future. Swarmings and robberies are common, and homicides have been investigated in the area.
"We have many good people here but we also have a small percentage of people who have gotten involved in crime, either through the influence of friends or the influence of gangs," said Rev. Terry Orchard, who invited Jean-Jacques to Ottawa.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Maggie Padlewska
