Inquest to examine death of Ontario Indigenous woman following hospital visit
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An inquest is set to begin next week to investigate the 2021 death of an Indigenous woman in St. Catharines, Ont., shortly after she was discharged from a hospital emergency room visit.
Heather Winterstein was a 24-year-old member of the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River.
The Chiefs of Ontario organization said Winterstein went to the emergency department Marotta Family Hospital for a severe backache on Dec. 9, 2021, when she was given Tylenol and discharged.
It said Winterstein returned the following day, collapsed in the waiting room and later died.
The organization, which represents First Nations chiefs in the province, said no answers have been given to her friends or family.
“Heather’s death is a tragic reminder of the systemic racism First Nations people continue to face in healthcare,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict in a statement.
“This process must carefully examine whether discrimination, whether overt or not, may have affected the care she received. Any issues that are uncovered by this inquest must be remedied to avoid any more sorrow and pain for our people. All First Nations patients deserve meaningful change and safe health care.”
Ontario’s west region supervising coroner Dr. Karen Schiff said the inquest to examine the circumstances of Winterstein’s death will begin on Monday morning.
It is expected to last 13 days and hear from approximately 22 witnesses, and will consider recommendations to prevent similar cases in the future.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.