The ambulance attendant put me on the stretcher and I was off to the hospital.
Earlier that day I was at my doctor’s office for a regular appointment. While I was waiting there, I saw the security guard trying to physically remove two homeless people from the waiting room. This was early January and it was -30°C outside and there was an extreme windchill warning.
Wanting to do something, I got up and took a picture of what was happening with my cellphone.
As I went back to sit down, the security guard asked me to come out to the foyer. I refused. I was taken there anyway and was asked about the picture that I took. The situation escalated to where the two large security guards grabbed the phone from my hands. I was forced to delete the pictures. During the struggle I fell over and somehow hit my head and hurt my shoulder.
I left the doctor’s office in fear. I was not able to retrieve my cellphone from the security guards. I ran to Winnipeg Inner City Missions, an outreach of the Presbyterian Church and a place I know well, to see if they could help. While I was sitting in Rev. Margaret Mullin’s office, I fell over and she had to phone the ambulance.
I was at the hospital for over 11 hours waiting and was examined by the doctor. There was some concern about bleeding in the brain. Rev. Margaret was with me the whole time. I had a slightly sprained left shoulder and a minor concussion. Nothing serious.
There was a police investigation, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority did its own investigation into the matter. Weeks passed after the incident. I had a meeting with the vice president and chief operating officer of the WRHA and the head of the security firm. They both offered a verbal and written apology. I brought along a mediator whom I chose to be with me.
After the meeting, the WRHA decided that there would be changes made to its practices dealing with vunerable people. There would be designated areas set aside for them in inclement weather. There would also be sensitivity training for the security guards—more aboriginal awareness and mental health awareness for all staff.
The police completed their own investigation and no charges were laid against the security guards. No signs of an assault. This was after viewing the security tape of the incident.
I was advised by some people to take legal action for what happened to me. I even went as far as taking some friendly advice from a friend with a legal background. But I have decided not to take any legal action; instead, I chose to work with the WRHA through these changes. I was able to share my personal experience of residential school with the top officials in that meeting. Why did I need to share that experience? Two different worlds, two cultures often meet at this medical office. Both unaware of each other. Both judging each other based on what they see on the surface. Now that will change with the new policy the WRHA will set in place—at least, that is what I am hoping for in the near future.
