Residents alarmed after grader hit by gunfire, acts of vandalism in Manitoba municipality

An eastern Manitoba municipality is concerned about the safety of its staff, council members and residents after a grader was hit by gunfire amid a series of “disturbing” incidents reported to RCMP.

It was unclear if the shooting was intentional or if any incidents are linked, but they come at a time when municipal politicians and staff across Canada are reporting more threats, harassment and vandalism.

“I’m hoping it was an accident, but we want people to be aware. If it wasn’t, I sure hope somebody knows who it was and turns them in,” Municipality of Alexander Mayor Jack Brisco said about the shooting.

The operator wasn’t injured when the grader was hit by a bullet on a road near Bird River, about 125 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, on Nov. 4.

Brisco said the employee heard a noise and assumed it was a rock hitting the grader’s blade. A bullet was found after the operator saw a hole in the engine compartment door.

“(Staff) do not want to go back up there and grade roads. They’re very upset and they feel unsafe,” said Gisèle Smith, Alexander’s chief administrative officer.

The shooting involved a high-powered rifle in a residential area and no-hunting zone, the municipality said.

The investigation is ongoing, RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Melanie Roussel said.

In March 2024, a gun crosshair was spray-painted on an employee’s personal SUV. That month, a resident who allegedly harassed staff was removed from a council meeting by RCMP.

Two of the municipality’s welcome signs were vandalized last year. Hundreds of dollars were stolen after a suspect broke in to a bulk water station in Great Falls this month.

In July, officials posted a warning to curb bullying, personal attacks, threats and the spread of misinformation in comments sections on Alexander’s Facebook page.

The municipality issued a news release Wednesday to highlight incidents and assert that it will not tolerate vandalism, violence, intimidation or behaviour that jeopardizes staff or residents’ safety.

“These things are hurting people and their families,” Brisco said. “What’s going to happen is you’ll have people quitting their jobs over this stuff. People will be scared to run for council.”

“These things are hurting people and their families.”

There’s a cost to taxpayers — to install surveillance cameras, or hire lawyers or private security — when incidents happen, Brisco noted.

Alexander officials discussed their concerns with Premier Wab Kinew at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities’ fall convention Tuesday, Smith said.

Kinew urged respect for local leaders when he addressed the convention Monday.

Smith said she’s never seen a time like now where people feel it is acceptable to mistreat municipal staff or politicians.

“More people are becoming more aggressive,” Smith said. “It’s getting out of hand.”

Brisco said people react quickly on social media and write comments they wouldn’t say in person.

“We’re just regular people trying to make our communities a better place,” Brisco said. “Nobody should be experiencing this kind of problem.”

“We’re just regular people trying to make our communities a better place.”

A recent survey of 1,633 local politicians by the Canadian Municipal Barometer found 63 per cent faced some form of harassment.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities delegates passed a resolution in 2024 asking the federal government to work with FCM on measures to protect elected leaders, their families and staff, especially women, members of Black and racialized communities, LGBTTQ+ people, those with disabilities and Indigenous people.

The federation also called on politicians at all levels to lead by example and demonstrate civility and mutual respect toward each other. President Rebecca Bligh, a city councillor from Vancouver, said harassment of leaders at all levels of government is “surging.”

“Through (the COVID-19 pandemic), there was a stark rise in targeted harassment and vitriol online,” she said.

Some elected officials resigned or chose not to run again because of harassment, Bligh said.

Strong Cities Network convened 100 leaders from 40 Manitoba municipalities in April to discuss experiences and potential solutions.

A spike in, and rising intensity of, anti-government and anti-establishment sentiments are being fuelled in large part by online misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy narratives, a post-meeting report said.

Differences of opinion on proposals or decisions, even for seemingly mundane issues such as parks or roads, are a significant motivating factor for verbal abuse, threats and council disruptions, the report said.

Last month, RCMP investigated a Halloween display that depicted the hanging of Rural Municipality of Taché council members.

The Winnipeg constituency offices of two of Kinew’s cabinet ministers, Nahanni Fontaine and Bernadette Smith, were set on fire this year.

Fontaine said last week the “shift” has continued since politically motivated incidents began to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca