Service to honour slain rural physician
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/08/2023 (806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A memorial service to honour a “gentle” rural family doctor who was slain by her son will be held in Winnipeg Friday.
Dr. Anna Kolakowski, 65, was shot by 32-year-old Olaf Kolakowski in the RM of Morris early Saturday.
Her husband, Mariusz Kolakowski, 59, was also shot, but survived, RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said.
After shooting his parents, Olaf died by suicide.
Pastor Walery Bykowski of St. Andrew Bobola Church said Kolakowski, who was a member of his parish, was “very gentle and kind.”
The Catholic church, located at 541 Marion St., will host a funeral for her, with prayers set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Kolakowski periodically attended the church for Polish cultural events and religious services. Her son attended Saturday school there in his youth, Bykowski said.
Kolakowski’s office, located at the Morris General Hospital 6o kilometres south of Winnipeg, remained closed Wednesday as regional health officials scrambled to find a care provider for her patients.
Carla Krawetz, who had been seeing the doctor since 2014, said the community is grappling with the loss.
“Doctor Kolakowski, to her patients, wasn’t just a doctor, she was also your friend, and she was an advocate,” Krawetz said, her voice catching in her throat.
“I’m in shock, honestly.”
Krawetz described the Kolakowski as a tireless medical advocate who helped her deal with a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder, brought on by domestic violence.
“She always made the time for me, she always took me seriously, she always listened and she actually cared,” she said. “She saved my life.”
Krawetz said she is concerned Kolakowski’s death will make it difficult for patients in southern Manitoba to access quality care.
Officials from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation said Kolakowski used to travel to the community to provide medical services at the Ginew Wellness Centre.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba was unable to comment on the tragedy Wednesday.
“Obviously, it’s an awful circumstance,” said Paul Penner, the college’s chief operating officer.
Southern Health did not respond to requests for comment.
tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Thursday, August 17, 2023 8:26 AM CDT: Changes wording to "died by suicide"