Assault with racial overtones upsets Winkler, Man., known for its safety
Man assaulted early in morning, had turban ripped off
An assault with racial overtones in Winkler has upset residents of the southern Manitoba city, which prides itself on its reputation for safety.
Early in the morning of June 15, the Winkler Police Service responded to a 911 call about an assault on Harmony Lane, a residential street on the north side of the city. According to a police news release, officers found a man who had been assaulted and had his turban torn off.
Police then found and charged three suspects with assault and other offences. One of the suspects in the attack remains in custody in Winnipeg, while the two others were released with a promise to appear in court in Morden, police said.
Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens said in a statement Monday he was saddened to learn of what he called a "despicable incident" he described as uncharacteristic for his city. He praised police for the quick arrest of the three suspects.
Steve Reynolds, who helps newcomers settle in Winkler, said his community is shocked because one of the city's biggest draws is is reputation for being safe.
"We hear that from newcomer clients all the time too, that they love the kind of safety and peacefulness of settling with their family in a smaller community, so it kind of shakes all that up," said Reynolds, who works with Regional Connections Immigrant Services.
Reynolds said some newcomers may now feel less safe than they used to in Winkler, which is about 100 km southwest of Winnipeg.
"It definitely would feel that way for a lot of people today, after seeing that something like this can happen here," he said.
According to Statistics Canada, immigrants made up 26 per cent of Winkler's total population of 13,745 in 2021. More than a fifth of the city's newcomers that year were recent arrivals who planted roots no earlier than 2016, according to the 2021 census.