All classes and exams were cancelled on Nov. 19 at the university’s Fort Garry campus following reports of a man with a large knife.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) was notified of an adult male armed with a knife in the Allen Building (30 Sifton Road), according to a press release. Members of the WPS general patrol units, the tactical support team and the canine unit responded and established a perimeter of the building and the surrounding area.
Gordon Perrier, director of campus Security Services, indicated that there was a fire alarm report and a call to Security Services, and that Security Services was on the scene within minutes.
An Alert Ready broadcast was issued through the province’s emergency management organization at approximately 8:28 a.m. with a message indicating that the WPS had issued a dangerous person alert. The suspect was said to have last been seen in the area of the Allen Building.
“If you see this individual, do not approach and call 911,” read the alert. “Leave the area immediately if safe to do so. Stay out of the area.”
The suspect was described as a black male wearing black clothing.
Around a dozen marked and unmarked police vehicles could be seen near the building that morning.
Winnipeg Police Service officers on the main floor of the Allen Building
Nearly an hour after the Alert Ready broadcast, at 9:24 a.m., the university notified all students and employees of the incident, adding that all classes, exams and activities were cancelled for the day and that a shelter-in-place advisory was in place.
“For your safety, if you are not on campus, remain where you are, stay in place and lock all doors,” read the email. “If you are not on campus, please do not come to campus.”
At 9:44 a.m., the majority of police officers and the tactical support team left the Allen Building. By 10:15 a.m., individuals in the lobby were told they could enter the building.
Members of the Winnipeg Police Service tactical support team leaving the Allen Building
In an update, the WPS reported that the incident at the Fort Garry campus had been resolved. “It has been determined that there is no imminent threat to public safety. The major crimes unit continues to investigate this matter.”
Perrier said in an afternoon news conference that “we have provided all the information that the university has, including reports, CCTV and availability to our staff for [the police] investigation.”
When questioned on how this incident was communicated to students, Perrier referred to the university’s app (UM Safe) and a tower system notification on campus, “which is essentially a loudspeaker that indicates what we want people to do.”
Perrier also commented on the nearly one-hour delay between the Alert Ready broadcast and the university email sent to all students and employees informing them of the incident.
“Initial information came from Security Services and the police services giving people direction to stay away from the area, and that’s the information we’re relying on initially for initial direction,” said Perrier. “The follow-up email from the university is of course not that emergency direction. That emergency direction came much earlier.”
When questioned why the university did not put out a statement immediately, Perrier responded, “if people were being actively hurt […] we would activate those things immediately. In this case, the information isn’t exactly that. So, in this case, we work in conjunction with the police who are the lead at that event.”
Members of the Winnipeg Police Service tactical support team leaving the Allen Building
At 11:07 a.m., the university notified all students and employees by email that “all regular campus activity should proceed,” and that in-person classes and exams would resume the following day.
No arrests have been made as of that afternoon, according to the WPS press release.
