Every evening after work at the community health centre in Ottawa, Maya rushed to her car. For months, she would notice the same dark truck parked nearby. Her ex was inside, just sitting there, watching. Sometimes he would text her things like, “I can still see you.”
She didn’t tell anyone at first. He hadn’t actually spoken to her, and she was scared people would say she was imagining things. Then one day, a coworker spotted a rifle case in the back seat of his truck. Everyone went quiet.
Maya’s boss called building security and the police right away. The officers said this was a serious warning sign of what they called armed stalking. They explained that under Canada’s Red Flag laws, they could ask a court to take his guns for a while while they checked things out. A few days later, the order was approved.
When the officers told Maya that the guns were gone, she cried. It was a mix of fear and relief. “That’s when I knew someone finally believed me,” she said.
After that, her workplace added more lights outside, and everyone got a short talk about spotting red flags and reporting threats. Maya moved to a new place and eventually went back to work.
“It wasn’t just about me,” she said. “It showed everyone that danger doesn’t always stay at home. It can follow you anywhere but help can, too.”
Even if no one gets hurt, using a gun to scare or follow someone is a huge red flag. Canada’s Red Flag laws let friends, coworkers, or employers ask for help fast when firearms are being used to threaten or control someone.