Outreach worker concerned by high number of homicides in Winnipeg so far in 2022
A community advocate is expressing concern over the number of homicides in Winnipeg so far this year.
There have been 20 homicides since the start of 2022 which has already more than doubled the number at the same time last year.
Mitch Bourbonniere, a community outreach worker with Mama Bear Clan and Downtown Community Safety Partnership, sees it as further evidence underlying factors of crime have a firm hold on some people throughout the city.
“Drug use, addiction, domestic violence. Everything’s on the rise and it’s leading to the kind of numbers that we’re seeing,” Bourbonniere said.
At this time in 2021, Winnipeg had seven homicides. This year the number of homicides is already sitting at 20.
“To hear that we’re not through May and we’ve got 20 homicides is absolutely heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, worrisome because those are families… that’s community… that’s all of us and our sense of safety,” Bourbonniere said.
Const. Jay Murray with the Winnipeg Police Service said most involve people who were previously known to each other but there are exceptions.
“There are still homicides that occur between people that are unknown to each other but they’re relatively rare,” Murray said. “Other than that we do see a lot of drug use or alcohol use involved in homicides.”
Murray said he doesn’t believe any of the 20 homicides are related and can’t point to one single issue that’s driving up the numbers this year.
However, he said gang activity has contributed to violence, including the number of homicides.
“A lot of homicides that we deal with start with disputes over the drug trade and that’s a reality of what we’re facing and there’s even violence beyond homicides,” Murray said, pointing to situations where people are seriously injured due to violence that doesn’t cause a fatality.
Bourbonniere has worked to help people get out of gang life but he said there’s much more work to be done.
“Just as a society, hone in on mental health and wellness and support and low barrier services for people,” he said. “That’s the answer.”
Winnipeg had 43 homicides in 2021 and a record 44 in 2019.
Police weren’t able to immediately provide a number on how many homicides this year have been solved.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.