‘Can’t be swept under the carpet’

Greater cultural awareness training for security guards — as a provincial mandate — is on the table as government looks to update regulations.

It follows retailers’ ballooning use of private security guards throughout Manitoba.

“Indigenous peoples appear to be treated differently sometimes by these security,” said Eric Robinson, a former New Democrat deputy premier. “We’re not blaming all the security guard companies, but we’re blaming a lack of training.”

Robinson and a handful of Indigenous Manitobans brought their concerns to government and businesses earlier this year.

The past-politician, who served until 2016, was tapped by an Indigenous actress and a musician after they’d been harassed while shopping, he said. The incidents were separate.

“I’ve experienced that myself,” Robinson added.

He recounted being followed in a pharmacy by a uniformed guard. Another time, he was told vagrancy wasn’t allowed while he waited for his vehicle to be outfitted with new tires he’d bought. That exchange — though not with a security guard — led to calling the manager, he said.

Poor experiences with security can be traumatizing, and they’re a seemingly daily occurrence, Robinson stated.

So he and a group, including the actress and musician, met with Justice Minister Matt Wiebe to highlight the treatment they said they’ve received. The December 2024 meeting included Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

Again in April, government officials met with Robinson and a group of Indigenous people. This time, upwards of a dozen private security firms joined.

“We can’t simply allow this to be swept under the carpet,” Robinson said.

He’s seeking better cultural training — Indigenous-led and mandated by the province. Moving forward requires mutual respect and two-way communication between Indigenous people and security guards, Robinson underscored.

“There’s a lot of interest in this and getting this right,” said Minister Wiebe.

He’s struck an advisory committee involving industry and educational partners. Robinson is part of the group. Regulatory and legislative changes affecting private security guards will be informed by the committee’s advice, Wiebe said.

He’s aiming to bring the changes, or terms of legislation, forward this fall. He didn’t commit to mandating Indigenous-led cultural awareness training.

“It’s important to have that cultural awareness and that perspective really as the foundation for the work we’re doing,” he said instead.

“We know that there’s been a gap, and that’s why we’re committed to working on this and taking this seriously.”

Manitoba unveiled its public safety strategy last November. The plan promises to make private security’s access of de-escalation tools and licence renewal easier. It also pledges to close legislative gaps and ensure guards have tools to “safely act” when met with criminal activity.

During the 2024-25 fiscal year, 8,992 private security guard licences were issued or renewed in Manitoba. It’s a notable jump from the 6,378 of 2019-20.

“As crime has increased, so too has business been forced to take actions to secure the well-being of their staff and their place of business.”–Loren Remillard

Grocery stores and other retailers employ private security guards.

“As crime has increased, so too has business been forced to take actions to secure the well-being of their staff and their place of business,” said Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

Still, racial profiling and stereotyping is never justified — and it’s not exclusive to the security guard sector, Remillard continued.

“We have to address it through education measures,” he said. “Not just for employees with cultural awareness training, but as early as we can, when we have kids in school systems.”

David Driedger, a minister at First Mennonite Church in the West End, said he was “disheartened” to see a group of people barred from entering a gas station recently. The crew, who looked dishevelled, had to give drink orders through a service window, Driedger said.

“I just think with this sort of ad hoc approach by a lot of businesses, it sort of feels like, at minimum, neighbourhoods are profiled, if not individuals,” Driedger said, adding he believes more social support funding would help root problems.

Businesses don’t have a playbook to deal with social challenges, Remillard said, while re-emphasizing the importance of education.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 — which represented 2,279 guards across five security companies as of April — said it welcomed Robinson’s work.

Cultural awareness and sensitivity training is among five “key pieces of training” UFCW has lobbied to include in all Manitoba security guards’ curriculum, president Jeff Traeger wrote in a statement.

De-escalation training, strategies for working with people experiencing addictions, mental health first aid and crisis response, and medical emergency intervention round out the union’s wishlist.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com