Night Watches Us

In August 2018, Nicholas Gibbs was suffering from a mental health breakdown outside his home. Montreal police were called and, during an altercation, the 23-year-old father of three was fatally shot by an officer. Residents witnessed the shocking and tragic event, which continues to reverberate far beyond their Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. Gibbs’s death adds to an appallingly long list of victims of police violence who didn’t receive the support they needed and highlights a justice system that remains unjust. Using art as an act of resistance, director Stefan Verna blends testimony and tribute through music, dance and spoken word to elevate Gibbs’s family＇s desire for accountability in the face of systemic racism. The area is transformed with murals and gardens to hold space for Gibbs’s memory, amplifying calls for change, speaking truth to power, helping grieve the loss of a loved one and addressing the void created by his absence.