Ottawa residents are on edge as news of another sexual attack emerged Friday, adding to a series of attacks on women in Ottawa.
While police worked overtime to solve the Wednesday murder of a woman in a west end park, there was another frightening sexual attack on a 16-year-old girl early Thursday in the woods behind a Kanata high school.
It is just the latest in reported sexual attacks or attempted attacks on women in the Ottawa area, and many women in the Capital region are questioning their safety.
So far this year, more than 140 sexual assaults have been reported in the city and many remain unsolved.
J.P. Vincelette of the Ottawa Police said on average the police get about one sexual assault reported per day
"That would be any sexual touching that's either unwanted is deemed to be a sexual assault," he said.
That doesn't include other forms of assault or attempted abductions.
Elsy David performs community safety audits and says she has had an increase in calls from concerned women.
"Women have been saying they're now afraid of walking on pathways and using bike paths," David said.
But she stresses that women should not be afraid; they should be aware.
Tips from Elsy David to stay safe:
-Avoid paths that are near the woods or dark at night, someone could be hiding and waiting to ambush you.
-Walk with a dog or a friend.
- Let someone know when you leave work and when you should be home.
- Change your routine. If someone's watching and sees you're always taking a certain path at the same time every day, it becomes easier for you to become a target.
-Carry a cell phone and if you're feeling scared, dial 91 on your cell phone so if anything happens, you only have to dial 1 to get help immediately.
-Everyone can help: turn on your porch lights to make the neighbourhood safer.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Aliya Jiwan
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