I don't know why you keep mentioning peate -- best to leave him out of this.
I think peate lived out west for quite some time, so I don't know if he might have been in the city during the time both dog joints operated.
I saw my share of people transacting on the street for various things. I just kept walking and staring ahead and never got involved, so in Montreal you are correct, I too never felt like I needed to be too concerned about my safety.
The only truly gruesome scene I saw a few feet away from where I was walking, was a stumbling drunk guy who could barely hold his balance, threaten a bouncer twice his size. The bouncer took him out with a punch to the head. The blow was so powerful that I saw the drunk literally fly in mid air and when he landed, a pool of blood expanded around his head. I'll never forget the moment, it was surreal.