Saskatchewan entertainment venues say security top priority after Manchester bombing

Security managers at Saskatchewan music and sports venues are assuring the public that safety is their top priority after the shocking terror attack in Manchester, U.K., overnight.

Children were among the 22 killed and 59 injured in the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

• Salman Abedi, 22, ID'd as suicide bomber in Manchester attack
• 'Everybody … screamed and started running' — search for loved ones follows Manchester concert blast

In Saskatoon, flags at the SaskTel Centre were flying at half-mast for the victims of the attack.

The centre's chief executive officer Will Lofdahl said the team at the SaskTel Centre, which seats up to 13,000 people, was very aware of its safety responsibilities.  

Safety, security priority at Sask. venues

"In our industry, that is something that is forefront in our mind all of the time," said Lofdahl.

We review every one of those incidents, every piece of information we can get about it, get from it, to compare against our procedures here.- Mosaic Stadium game-day security advisor Rod Buckingham

"The foundation of the service that we provide [to] those that purchase tickets is to ensure that they're safe.

"And so when something like that happens somewhere in the world it's certainly a terrible tragedy."

The centre started checking bags and prohibiting backpacks about five years ago. It has also budgeted for the purchase of walk-through devices called "magnetometers" that screen for weapons. 

He said it was important the public remained vigilant and report any unusual behaviour or items to police. 

New Mosaic Stadium more secure: safety advisor

Rod Buckingham, the game-day security advisor for Regina's new Mosaic Stadium, said he had contacted a Public Safety Canada official on Tuesday to discuss local security in the wake of the U.K. bombing.

"Security people always worry about things like that," said Buckingham.

"They're just horrible [incidents]. We do everything we can to avoid that happening."

He said Mosaic officials also meet with CSIS and the RCMP's national security teams regularly to review safety measures.

Buckingham believes the new Mosaic Stadium is more secure than the old one, partly because it has better entrances and exits.

The new facility also has hundreds of video cameras monitored by security staff.

Buckingham said his team will always try to learn everything it can from events like the Manchester attacks.

"We review every one of those incidents, every piece of information we can get about it, get from it, to compare against our procedures here," he said.

Public Safety Minister responds

Speaking in Regina on Tuesday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale condemned the attack, describing it as a senseless and despicable act of brutal violence.

He said Canada's national threat level had been re-examined since the U.K. attack and there was no basis to increase it from "medium", where it has been since 2014.  

"Our police and security services are vigilant and on the job assiduously 24-7, 365," said Goodale.

"When an event like this occurs they re-examine and double-check everything to make sure that to the maximum extent humanly possible, everything is being done properly to keep Canadians safe."

Goodale was in Regina to announce $1 million for Saskatchewan events celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Canada 150 safety

He said there would be heightened security at Canada 150 events.

"When there are large gatherings of people, special steps are taken to make sure that they are safe and secure,"said Goodale.

"They will all be paying particular attention to large gatherings of people and in our 150 year there will be a great many of those gatherings."

Goodale also said the public should remain vigilant and tell police if they see anything suspicious or unusual.  

Brad Sylvester from the Optimist Club of Saskatoon said its Canada Day event at Diefenbaker Park this year would have the appropriate security staff for the size of the event in addition to the police presence.

"Federal authorities and local police will [appraise] the situation and provide the level of safety Canadians expect," said Sylvester.