A man faces sexual assault charges following an incident involving a nurse at a Winnipeg hospital’s parkade, as per the police. The nurse was accosted by an unfamiliar man while exiting her vehicle in the parkade around 11 p.m. on Nov. 8, according to Winnipeg law enforcement. After requesting the time, the man proceeded to sexually assault the nurse as she was “trapped between two vehicles.” Subsequently, upon the nurse’s outcry, the man fled the scene, prompting her to notify hospital security, who then contacted the police. Fortunately, the nurse did not require medical attention.
Early the next morning at approximately 3:30 a.m., hospital security identified the suspected assailant and detained him until the police arrived. The 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged with sexual assault, currently in police custody. St. Boniface Hospital’s president, Nicole Aminot, communicated in a memo to staff that the hospital has implemented various safety measures in the past two years to enhance security. These measures include the deployment of overnight patrolling security officers in the parkade, key-card access to the parkade’s stairwell, improved lighting, additional mirrors, and upgraded security camera monitoring systems.
Darlene Jackson, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, remarked that the safety enhancements mentioned in Aminot’s memo are insufficient. Jackson emphasized the growing prevalence of violence and abuse against hospital staff in Manitoba and expressed dissatisfaction with the current safety measures in place. She highlighted the importance of taking the safety of front-line workers, visitors, and patients seriously, citing previous incidents at other hospitals that led to concerns and actions by the union.
The attacker had a criminal history, having recently pleaded guilty to robbery and theft charges in connection with a previous incident. Court records also indicate multiple guilty pleas for theft and assault charges dating back to earlier years. The incident at the hospital parkade occurred just days after the man’s most recent guilty plea in a robbery case.
The Manitoba Nurses Union had previously voted to “grey list” Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre due to safety concerns following a series of crimes in the vicinity. Nurses at Thompson General Hospital are currently voting on a similar measure, citing staff vacancies, violence, and a lack of action from management as key reasons. Jackson reiterated the urgent need for improved safety measures in healthcare facilities across the province to ensure the protection of staff and patients.
In response to the incident, the hospital has engaged in discussions with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Winnipeg police to address neighborhood safety concerns and provide safety training for staff. The decision whether to “grey list” St. Boniface Hospital will be left to the nurses, with Jackson emphasizing that such actions are necessary if employers fail to prioritize safety in healthcare settings.