Osborne village nightclub’s licence suspended after man shot in bar

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/03/2025 (387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An Osborne Village nightclub has had its licence suspended after a man was shot and seriously injured inside the bar after hours.

Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba spokesperson Lisa Hansen confirmed the liquor licence for the Moonlight Lounge was revoked Feb. 13 and would not be reinstated until further notice.

“(The licensing body) is aware of the incident that occurred at Moonlight Lounge and is working cooperatively with law enforcement,” Hansen said in an emailed statement.

Winnipeg police were sent to the lounge at about 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 6 about a man who had been shot. Lester Valdez, 29, was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery to have the bullet removed from his spine.

Valdez told the Free Press he and a friend were drinking in the club after hours with several other patrons when a fight broke out. He was shot in the midst of the melee.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Claude Chancy said an update on the investigation was expected to be released Thursday morning.

At the time of the incident police said the suspects fled before officers arrived. The gun has not been found.

A sign taped outside the 108 Osborne St. bar Wednesday said the liquor licence was suspended until further notice, and any contraventions of the suspension could result in fines.

The club hasn’t posted on social media since before the shooting took place. The Osborne Village bar’s Instagram page advertises DJ performances, drink specials and free entry for women before 11 p.m. on weeknights.

The bar’s owner could not be reached for comment.

Hansen said a licence suspension can result when a non-compliant licensee does not change their actions or if the conduct of a licensee no longer satisfies the requirements to hold a licence.

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority uses a progressive discipline model with its licencees and when a liquor licence breach is noted, the next steps typically include cautions, written warnings and meetings with management.

After a licence is suspended, the establishment owner has 21 days to appeal. The appeal goes before a quasi-judicial board that hears evidence and arguments from the licensee and the licensing body’s executive director. The board then makes a legally binding written decision.

A few doors down at 120 Osborne St., Little Pizza Heaven manager Sebastian Munoz said he’s seen patrons from Moonlight Lounge come in to the restaurant suffering from mace attacks but hasn’t seen violence or weapons up close.

Munoz stopped short of blaming the bar for incidents in the area and said Osborne Village is a central location that funnels people in from other neighbourhoods, but said he worries about the safety of his staff due to the club’s late-night operations and after-hours events.

“Maybe they shouldn’t be open super late,” he said. “But as long as (patrons are) respectful and not causing any issues I don’t think it matters what bar is there.”

Moonlight Lounge’s liquor licence is the only suspension in effect under the liquor authority’s purview, Hansen said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca