The Forks are stepping up security after two recent attacks.
There will be additional members of the Winnipeg Police Service and the downtown Community Safety Association, along with more security guards from The Forks, said Clare MacKay, vice president of the Forks Foundation.
“We constantly monitor and adjust our security protocols and procedures, but we recognize that this past week has been a challenge and we have seen an increase in activity on our site,” MacKay said Thursday in an interview with Marcy Markusa, presenter of CBC. Manitoba Information Radio.
The first of two recent attacks took place on Monday around 8pm, when a group of teenagers assaulted a man and his daughter in an attempted robbery in the car park.
The man was taken to hospital in stable condition. Two girls were arrested and police were looking for a third on Tuesday.
Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, two men were taken to hospital in critical condition after being stabbed outside The Forks Market.
Police used their tactical support team to detain four youths and two adults in the area in connection with the stabbings.
In May, a man died after being stabbed in The Forks car park.
The Forks have security on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, MacKay said. There is no set time limit for how long additional security measures will be maintained.
“It’s something we will continue to monitor and if it needs to continue throughout the summer, obviously this is something we will implement.”
The attacks took place on Friday ahead of Canada Day celebrations, when large crowds are expected to gather at the site.
Violent incidents are rare in The Forks, says Clare MacKay of the Forks Foundation. (Warren Kay / CBC)
Some people at The Forks who spoke to CBC News on Wednesday said the incidents show the need to increase security, but some said it doesn’t surprise them.
“Here we’re pretty close to the city center and I think any city, it’s pretty common in the main area to be a little busier with all kinds of traffic,” Lane Cho said.
“It’s terrible and shocking, but it’s not that amazing.”
Henry Ramos had not heard of the attacks before a CBC reporter asked him about them.
“I think they should put some police here every day, every day they should put the police here,” he said.
Scott White said the attacks did not change the security he felt.
“Probably the reason I’ve lived in Winnipeg all my life, for better or for worse. You get used to Winnipeg, one way or another.”
MacKay has worked at The Forks for 18 years and said violent incidents occur “very rarely.”
“We have 54 acres that we patrol constantly. And unfortunately, an incident happened several hours after the market closed, but there was a team in place and in place.”
MacKay did not disclose how secure The Forks is on the site, saying some people could take advantage if this information were disclosed, but said there was security at the site at the time of the two recent attacks and that additional security will be provided in Any moment. events happen.