Suspect taken into custody following alleged sexual offense close to the Health Sciences Centre
The Health Sciences Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg is currently under scrutiny, as the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) has classified the hospital's working environment as unsafe. This decision, known as grey listing, was made due to repeated sexual assaults and insufficient security measures.
The latest incident occurred on the night of Thursday, shortly after 11 p.m., near the HSC's adult emergency department on the north side of William Avenue. A woman was involved in the incident, and officers swiftly located and arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the case.
This sexual assault marks a concerning trend, as it comes a little over a month after four similar incidents near the same location. The Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line (204-786-8631) and the WPS Victim Services unit (204-986-6350) are available for those affected by such incidents.
The MNU's grey listing action is a response to the escalating safety concerns at HSC. The Union’s demands for improvement include stricter screening and control at access points, requiring swipe cards for hospital tunnel access, an early alert system for security incidents, formalized post-incident debriefs, a review of security policies and training within 30 days, and police presence on campus until security coverage improves.
The hospital's interim president/CEO, Dr. Chris Christodoulou, acknowledged the vote and stated that the hospital and stakeholders, including police and provincial officials, are collaborating to address the issues. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara also expressed support for these collaborative efforts.
The recent history of safety concerns at HSC includes several high-profile sexual assaults. On July 2, 2025, five women were sexually assaulted on or around HSC grounds, including two nurses. A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with these assaults. Another sexual assault involving a nurse occurred on August 8, 2025, which was a key factor prompting the MNU vote to grey list the hospital.
The nurses' vote to grey list HSC was overwhelmingly supported, with 94% voting in favor. Over 1,000 nurses participated in the vote out of roughly 3,000 currently working at HSC. This formal action serves as a call for concrete safety reforms backed by union and government engagement.
[1] CBC News. (2025, August 13). Manitoba Nurses Union votes to grey list Health Sciences Centre over safety concerns. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-nurses-union-grey-list-health-sciences-centre-1.6101178
[2] Winnipeg Free Press. (2025, August 13). Manitoba Nurses Union votes to grey list Health Sciences Centre over safety concerns. Retrieved from https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/manitoba-nurses-union-votes-to-grey-list-health-sciences-centre-over-safety-concerns-575889641.html
[3] Global News. (2025, August 13). Manitoba Nurses Union votes to grey list Health Sciences Centre over safety concerns. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8803767/manitoba-nurses-union-grey-list-health-sciences-centre-safety-concerns/
[4] Winnipeg Sun. (2025, August 13). Manitoba Nurses Union votes to grey list Health Sciences Centre over safety concerns. Retrieved from https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-news/manitoba-nurses-union-votes-to-grey-list-health-sciences-centre-over-safety-concerns
[5] CTV News. (2025, August 13). Manitoba Nurses Union votes to grey list Health Sciences Centre over safety concerns. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/manitoba-nurses-union-votes-to-grey-list-health-sciences-centre-over-safety-concerns-1.6101181
- Despite the ongoing case of a sexual assault at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg, the union advocates for improvements in health-and-wellness by demanding enhanced security measures and stricter access control, including swipe cards for hospital tunnel access and an early alert system for security incidents.
- In response to the safety concerns and the recent trends of crime-and-justice incidents, such as repeated sexual assaults, major news outlets including CBC News, Global News, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Sun, and CTV News reported on the Manitoba Nurses Union's decision to grey list the HSC for general-news purposes.
- As a result of the escalating safety issues at HSC, various health and wellness resources like the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line and WPS Victim Services unit can provide support to those affected by such incidents, emphasizing the need for intervention in matters concerning sexual-health.
