Knife set is no laughing matter

Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
While some people find it funny, an unusual knife block being sold at a downtown store is no laughing matter for staff at the local women’s shelter.

For several months, Bradshaws on Ontario Street has been carrying a voodoo knife set called The Ex, which features a plastic figure whose body acts as the docking station for five knives.

Several weeks ago, Optimism Place residential co-ordinator and legal advocate Brenda Schippling spotted the knife set in the front window of the store after attending a business meeting downtown.

“As I looked closer, I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing,” she said, in a recent interview. “It was one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in a long time…I was traumatized.”

She’s long considered Bradshaws one of the most prestigious stores in the city, as well as one of her personal favourites, and is disappointed by their choice to not only sell such an item, but display it in the front window.

In her work, she said she has talked with several women stabbed by their partners. She wondered how the daughters of Laurie Lynn Vollmershausen, who was stabbed to death by her husband in Stratford eight years ago, would feel if they walked by and saw the knife block.

“She’s a woman in our community who was murdered by her husband with knives. Stabbing, again and again. I think of that woman’s daughters and if they ever saw this…”

She notes Optimism Place has a special “Laurie Fund” that goes to help other victims of domestic violence. Donations are always being accepted for the fund.

She said she has boycotted Bradshaws and has encouraged others to do the same. She said it’s not only women; that men and children should not have to see such a display of violence.

“I’m sure there is some people who do see humour in this but I fail to see any humour whatsoever. It’s one of the most disturbing items I have seen.”

As of last week, the knife set was no longer displayed in the window and was not in stock, as it was currently sold out.

In an interview earlier this week, Jeremy Wreford, who owns and operates Bradshaws with his wife Carrie, said he takes the comments made by Optimism Place very seriously. However, he hasn’t received many other complaints.

“While the product might seem to be in poor taste for some, others find it humorous, and understandably, The Ex knife set walks the tight rope between these two opinions,” he said.

“The complaints we have had are few in number, and we considered them along with the large number of requests we have had for the product, especially following the Globe and Mail article.”

In the April 5 article titled Violent by design, reporter Karen Von Hahn explores the design world’s dark side. The Ex knife set is discussed in the feature, along with other items such as an area rug with a chalk silhouette of a body, brass knuckle coffee mugs and lamps made from AK-47 replicas.

The knife set has also received plenty of coverage in other publications.

Wreford said when he and his wife brought the sets to the store, they didn’t realize how controversial an issue it would become, though he said he certainly understands why the product would upset some. He spoke with Optimism Place executive director Anne McDonnell a few months ago about her organization’s concerns and said he appreciated her calling to express her views and that he is open to feedback about the product .

“Although the objection to the item took us by surprise, we certainly have considered the viewpoint expressed by Optimism Place, and are not dismissing it or taking it lightly,” he said. “In offering this item for sale, it is certainly not our intention to condone violence or to be flippant about it, or to make any members of our community uncomfortable.”

The figure is cartoonish, reminding him of a Keith Haring drawing or a figure on a men’s room door. He said it is non-representational and gender non-specific.

“In the context of society in general, and taking into consideration the images we see in movies, on prime time TV dramas, in video games, on the Internet, and even the news, the item seems innocent by comparison – more of an ironic comment on contemporary societal attitudes towards violence than any endorsement of violent acts.”