City plans ‘security lead’ position as safety concerns grow after gunshots, firebomb incident in Edmonton

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This article was published 29/01/2024 (635 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg will add a new security-focused position amid calls to review its safety policy in the wake of recent gunshots at Edmonton City Hall.

Plans for a new “campus security lead” were confirmed to the Free Press late Monday afternoon.

“While we have numerous security measures in place, this new campus security lead will be expected to take us to the next level in terms of a comprehensive security plan, not only for the city hall campus, but eventually across all city properties… the campus security lead will also review existing policies, programs and procedures, and make recommendations for improvements,” spokesman David Driedger said in an emailed statement.

The information came after Coun. Sherri Rollins called for an external review of security at Winnipeg’s Civic Centre in an interview Monday morning.

Last Tuesday, bullets shattered glass and punctured walls at Edmonton’s city hall, where a Molotov cocktail was also ignited. A 28-year-old man who was a security guard with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires — not at city hall — is facing six weapons charges. The motive for the attack is still unclear. No one was physically injured.

“I’m hopeful that Edmonton is a wake-up call. Why? Because my thoughts around here is that (the level of safety is) grossly immature,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry).

Rollins said the Edmonton incident, combined with local safety gaps, highlights a need to speed up security planning in Winnipeg. On Monday evening, the councillor said there’s no set timeline to fill the new position, which won’t sufficiently address those issues.

She said multiple security incidents took place last year, including a smashed external window in her office, stalking incidents and a mailroom threat. There’s been little progress since, despite a safety update held for councillors last week, she said.

Her safety concerns include issues with key cards. While they effectively limit access to many rooms in the council and administration buildings, Rollins said they also prevent some staff from ensuring they can access two exits during an emergency, which could impede their escape from a fire or another threat.

“That’s an issue… no one seems to know how to navigate… you need two exits and (sometimes a) key card only allows for one,” she said.

Rollins said there’s also a lack of briefings following security incidents, suggesting a full security review of the Civic Centre complex would identify how best to improve safety.

However, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he doesn’t think an external security review is needed in at this point. Gillingham said the city’s chief administrative officer, Michael Jack, recently updated council members and political staff with extensive detail on security protocols.

He also believes adding the security lead will mark a significant step forward.

“(A) campus security lead… will establish a comprehensive security program for city hall…. Before we get to an external review, we need to have these steps play out and then determine what would be lacking. But I do agree more needs to be done to secure city hall,” the mayor said.

Gillingham said he thinks the internal work may also offer a quicker path forward than an external review.

“It (would) take several weeks, at a minimum, to do an external review. (But) giving feedback to the CAO to make sure that the best plan is put in place and established can happen immediately… We need the CAO to hire the full-time security lead as quickly as possible,” he said.

The mayor said he’s not sure exactly when the hiring will occur, or whether the position would be added to the city’s workforce or supplied through a contractor, referring those questions to Jack.

A request to interview the CAO was turned down Monday.

Coun. Evan Duncan, chairman of council’s community services committee, said the Edmonton incident highlighted some of the risks present in public buildings. He said he believes an internal municipal safety review would be a good first step but stressed any enhanced security measures must preserve public access to city hall.

“I don’t want to see the doors at city hall locked, (where) you have to buzz in and state your business,” said Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

“If you don’t have a scheduled appointment, you can’t come into the building and speak to anybody.… We’ve got a democratic system here in Canada and I think that having locked city buildings is counterproductive to that.”

Driedger noted security guards, key-card access and a visitor sign-in process are currently in place.

“We regularly review our security measures and procedures and make adjustments as needed,” he wrote.

— with files from the Canadian Press

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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