'She's always my girl': Inquest into Nicole LaFontaine's death concludes with jury's recommendations

A jury heard from its last witnesses and made a series of recommendations on Wednesday, during the third and final day of the inquest into the death of 31-year-old Nicole LaFontaine, who fell to her death from a window of a Regina YWCA building while staying there last July.

LaFontaine was battling addiction and mental health issues at the time, the inquest has heard. According to multiple witnesses who have spoken since Monday, the woman was in psychosis leading up to her death. 

A YWCA staff member testified that she was working the night LaFontaine died, and said LaFontaine's roommate alerted staff that the 31-year-old was trying to jump out of the fifth-floor window.

On Wednesday, the jury heard from the YWCA Regina's leadership, including CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen.

She testified that the floor LaFontaine was staying on is only approved to provide a cot and food to women, not mental health and addictions support.

Coomber-Bendtsen said the facility needs mental health and nurse practitioners on-site, but the YWCA would need extra funding for that. She also said it would be beneficial to have addiction-recovery beds.

"Nicole would have chosen an addiction bed.… She was ready," Coomber-Bendtsen said.

April Marcus, YWCA's assistant director of shelter, testified that since LaFontaine's death, YWCA Regina leadership has reviewed internal policy to assess what they can do differently.

Marcus said the office on the fifth floor was prioritized in the weeks following her death.

Like Coomber-Bendtsen, Marcus said she would like to see mental health specialists at the YWCA, and that current YWCA staff are not mental health workers.

However, "it seems to be something they've been forced to do due to lack of mental health supports," she said.

Marcus echoed other witnesses by saying a lack of funding is a significant part of that issue.

A mother's loss

Nicole LaFontaine was not the first of Valerie LaFontaine's daughters to die at YWCA Regina.

On Christmas Day 2022, Andrea LaFontaine, 32, died from fentanyl poisoning. 

Seven months later, Valerie learned Nicole had fallen out of her room's window at the YWCA. She died from her injuries in hospital a short time later in hospital.

Valerie said her daughters were very similar. 

"Nicole and Andrea were always together. They were the best of friends to each other. You know, they shared everything, including this addiction. They loved each other. They were like twins," Valerie said.

When reporters asked what Nicole was like, Valerie's face lit up for the first time since the inquest began on Monday.

"She was a beautiful woman. She had a good heart on her. She loved her babies. She liked being artistic and she loved makeup," she said.

"And I guess she was a woman, but she's always my girl — my little girl."

Valerie said the inquest has made her feel very hurt, and both physically and emotionally exhausted. 

She also doesn't feel that the YWCA is being accountable for its actions, and claims she's never received an apology from the organization.

"I need some closure. I need to know. I need some answers as to what happened," she said.

Recommendations will be taken seriously: CEO

While the jury was deliberating recommendations in the afternoon, Coomber-Bendtsen spoke with reporters outside the Royal Hotel, where the inquest has been held. She said those recommendations will be very helpful for her progress in advocating for more resources and supports at the YWCA.

"I'm very hopeful that there will be recommendations that I can leverage to bring strength to my voice and to the YWCA's perspective. I take that very seriously, and we've put a lot of time and effort into thinking about what that might look like."

She says the lack of adequate funding and resources from "the powers that be," including government, speaks to the deep-rooted causes of trauma women with addiction and mental health issues face.

In response to Valerie LaFontaine's concerns about the YWCA's accountability, Coomber-Bendtsen said she understands the need for that.

"I personally, as the leader of the organization, feel a huge amount of accountability and responsibility for Nicole's death. I feel that way every time that we have a death. I feel that way when we have a near death. And I think for me, it's the catalyst that pushes me forward for change," Coomber-Bendtsen said. 

The CEO said she feels for Valerie and all she's been through since her eldest daughter Andrea died.

"I can't imagine how difficult it would be to have lost two children and to have unanswered questions or not know what systems weren't at play to help support them."

Jury recommendations

In the interest of avoiding similar deaths in the future, the jury recommended the following to the YWCA:

• Ensure accuracy and completion on intake forms. Clients should initial each item on a checklist and managers should review intake forms. They should provide each client with guidelines on emergency procedures, emergency services and contact information.
• Check windows and room condition on intake.
• Work toward zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use on residence floors.
• Work toward a supervised consumption site at a separate area.
• Employ mental health support workers on-site 24/7.
• Work with clients to assess required mental health supports and referrals.
• Have mobile services on-site once per week to ease accessibility for clients.
• Provide alternative medicines as possible.
• Provide training for staff through regular team meetings on trauma, compassion, secondary traumatic stress, mental health and first aid.
• Provide critical incident debriefing for staff and clients from managers, and review procedures and protocols.
• Offer cultural supports and counsellors on-site.
• Provide recommendations to the Saskatchewan Health Authority on providing funding for 24/7 nurse practitioner service.
• Conduct wellness checks.
• Research active street drugs and educate staff on how to effectively support clients.
• Notify community agencies about active drugs on the street and possible dangers.

Coroner Aaron Fox also added his own recommendations for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, including that resources be made available to increase training of staff at the YWCA on youth mental health issues and addiction issues.

He recommended that more staff at the YWCA be added to include trained counsellors and nurse practitioners. He also recommended that beds be added at the YWCA for addiction recovery and rehabilitation.