Attack victim speaks after brutal assault

Jackie Healey is seen in hospital after a brutal attack on May 29/Facebook

By Dave Baxter
Originally published in the Selkirk Record

Jackie Healey spent last week recovering from a violent and brutal attack in St. Andrews and now the 23-year-old says her injuries are so severe that life will never be the same. 

On May 29 Healey and one other female worker were beaten by two teens that used baseball bats and pool balls in socks as weapons at the Selkirk Behavioral Health Foundation (BHF) male youth centre located along Breezy Point Road in St. Andrews.

Both Healey and the second victim suffered from what RCMP called “blunt trauma injuries.” 

Healey was released from the hospital on Monday, and shared the extent of her brutal injuries in an interview on Tuesday.

“I have severe consistent pain with my head where I was beat with a baseball bat and pool balls put into a sock,” Healey said.

Jackie Healey is seen before a brutal assault on May 29/Facebook

“The doctors said my skull is cracked in many different places, my eye bone is shattered, which caused bone fragment to press against the optic nerve causing me to go blind in one eye.”

  Healey can recount what happened just before the attack, and the harrowing moments right after, as she fought for survival. 

“I only remember seconds before the attack, and running down the stairs after the attack, from the third floor,” she said. “I pulled the fire alarm, which only rings in the main building.

“I barricaded myself in the main office on the main floor. I slid the dresser across the door, and called the Selkirk RCMP.”

She said she waited in horror for the police to arrive.

“I remember the RCMP members walking in, three of them, I started waving my hands to let the male officer know I was in the office. He came in and held me, I knew I was safe.

“I was full of blood and he hugged me. He walked me to a stretcher where I was taken to the Selkirk General Hospital and transferred to HSC.”

Healey was finishing her last shift at BHF as part of a Red River College work practicum when she and one other women were attacked by two teenage boys ages 16 and 17.

Both teens were arrested in Winnipeg two days after the attack.

“For the three weeks I was there at BHF I got along with the boys very well, especially with the 16 year old, very well,” Healey said. “I looked forward to going in, spending time with the boys. They brought me joy.

“I even went in on my days off. I have no clue why they attacked me, and I am still in shock that they did, because we had such a good bond. I thought we had a good bond.”

Healey has shared horrific stories and also posted disturbing images of her injuries on social media, but she has also talked about how friends, family and even total strangers have stood by her side.

“Since last Sunday, I have had my family, friends, strangers, and many people from the Interlake, people I don't know sending Facebook messages, people all over the province sending their love, support, hoping for a speedy recovery and that they have me in their prayers.”

Jackie Healey says she has had lots of support from friends and family since being assaulted/Facebook

 She said she has spoken personally with both Premier Brian Pallister and MKO Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson.

“I have received cards flowers and messages from people who I don't know, and that is beautiful for people to think of me and wish me a speedy recovery.”

BHF board chair Jody Ostapiw said there will now be both a criminal investigation as well as an internal investigation done by the foundation.

“We’re still putting the pieces together, and it’s too early to comment about specifics,” she said. “We’re doing our own inquiry, and we are cooperating with all the different entities involved when something happens at a rehabilitation centre, and we are cooperating with the criminal investigation.”

The BHF had said earlier this month they would be closing both their 16-bed male youth facility in St. Andrews and their youth female facility in St. Norbert this month if they could not secure a new funding model from the province.

Ostapiw confirmed Monday that both facilities have now been closed indefinitely and she could not say if they will ever be reopened. 

She added the closing of the facilities is due to funding issues and not because of the recent assault on the two women.

The BHF has said that most of their beds in both facilities were only funded when they were full and that funding model was not sustainable. 

Report alleges St. Andrews councillors overcharged nearly $6K on indemnities in 2015

By Dave Baxter

Originally published: Selkirk Record

An independent report compiled by two retired chartered accountants shows St. Andrews councillors allegedly overcharged almost $6,000 in indemnities in 2015.

In some cases councillors allegedly charged for meetings they didn’t attend, or ones that didn’t even take place, according to the report.

The report put together by retired accountants Glen and Karen McKenzie of St. Andrews alleges the seven members of St. Andrews council overcharged $5,998.57 on indemnities in 2015.

Glen added he believes there could be more examples of overcharging they didn’t find, because they stopped after finding a long list of examples of indemnity errors.

"The amounts provided are based on what we did find, but there could be more,” Glen said, who added they spent more than a month working on the independent report.

The report alleges rookie Coun. Rob Hogg overcharged $2,283.04 on his indemnities for 2015.

It also alleges Coun. Ken Keryluk overcharged  $1,391.48, first-term mayor George Pike overcharged $941.67, and Coun. Rob Ataman overcharged $884.91.

Coun. Russ Paradoski allegedly overcharged $241.78, Joy Sul overcharged $238.25, and deputy mayor Laurie Hunt overcharged $17.44, for a total of $5,998.57 according to the report.

McKenzie said another St. Andrews resident asked him if he would take a look at councillor’s indemnities, because of his accounting background, but he said once he stared to uncover errors he was “shocked.”

The report claims Keryluk and Paradoski charged for meetings there is no record of them attending, and claims Keryluk charged five times for meetings where there is no record they even took place.

In 12 alleged cases Coun. Hogg charged both hourly rates plus half or full day rates for the same day of meetings essentially charging twice for the same meeting, and Mayor Pike allegedly made the same error four times in 2015.

In 2015 articles were published in both the Selkirk Record and the Winnipeg Free Press in which St. Andrews councillor Rob Ataman said council was going to make changes to how councillors receive indemnities, in an effort to reduce costs.  

He specifically mentioned they were changing their bylaw so councillors would not be able to charge full or half day rates for meeting in Selkirk.

Despite his comments Ataman allegedly charged full or half day rates when he should have charged hourly rates for meetings in Selkirk seven times in 2015 according to the McKenzie report.

McKenzie first presented to the report to council at a meeting on April 5,

After the meeting the Selkirk Record spoke with Deputy Mayor Laurie Hunt who said he believes indemnities were incorrect for 2015 because of a few “honest mistakes.”

Hunt claims council changed the rules on travelling to Selkirk in February of 2015, and right after the change he believes “one councillor” continued to charge incorrectly.

“I think that only happened once or twice,” Hunt said. “And that was right at the change-over of the bylaw.

“And I believe it was one councillor, and it was made in error. That hasn’t happened in over a year.”

Despite Hunt’s comments the report makes claims of multiple errors in indemnities for 2015, and Hunt admitted the person who does their indemnity paperwork doesn’t question councillor’s expenses, so it is completely up to councillors to fill them out correctly.

“We’re signing the indemnity sheet and we’re saying it’s correct. It’s 99.9 per cent on the councillors to do this correct,” he said.

Coun. Joy Sul who has admitted she has overcharged $238.25 because of what she said were errors,  says she plans to pay back the money “in full,” and added she is “very concerned” about what the report has uncovered,

“This is a very professional report, and this is their background”. Sul said. “I saw the report I was quite bothered.”

Sul said new councillors were not given proper instructions on how to fill out indemnities when they first started on council, and there is no consistency to how they are filled out, and no one checks them.

But she added she does not believe all the errors were honest mistakes

When asked if councillors were making mistakes, or in some cases overcharging it on purpose Sul simply said “both.”

Sul said when she was first elected she asked the person who does the indemnity paperwork what the protocol was for handing in indemnities, and she said the response she got was ‘you hand it in, I pay it’

Ataman was contacted for comment but said council prefers to have the mayor or deputy mayor talk to media.

The McKenzie’s are asking for a number of changed to the St. Andrews indemnity bylaw to make it more “consistent and defined.”

McKenzie said he is not going through councillor indemnities “to make people look bad.”

“We did this because if residents don’t go through the records then council will go unchecked. The only way we can do something is to challenge this,” he said.

The couple have given all members of council a copy of the report, and said they will give them “reasonable time to respond.”

Vince Li will walk free in Selkirk and Winnipeg

Vince Li could soon be leaving the Selkirk Mental Health Centre for the secure psychiatric ward at Health Sciences Centre, and will be allowed unescorted trips into Winnipeg, Selkirk, and other surrounding areas.

RECORD PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER

-Originally published in the Selkirk Record

Vince Li has been granted more freedoms after they were requested for him at a hearing last week.

Last week the Manitoba Review Board granted Vince Li, the man who stabbed and decapitated 22-year-old Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus in 2008 more freedoms.

In a decision released last Friday afternoon, the board agreed to all requests from Li’s treatment team, including a move to a secure psychiatric ward at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, and the opportunity to have unescorted visits to Winnipeg, Selkirk, and surrounding areas, including Lockport and local beaches.

Li must carry a cell phone with him during all unescorted visits.

The board also said they will consider allowing Li to eventually transition into a secure group home in Winnipeg.

The decision on whether Li can move into a secure group home will be made after the release of an updated assessment report, and a detailed community living plan.

Li, who suffers from schizophrenia, was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the death of Tim McLean, and has been held at Selkirk Mental Health Centre since 2009.

Last week’s decision follows a series of new freedoms also granted to Li last winter, and once again have led to heated debate, and national media attention.

But Chris Summerville, the executive director of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, said he has spent a lot of time with Vince Li, and said Li is simply not the monster that many have made him out to be.

“He is calm, and he realizes what he did,” said Summerville. “He has great remorse about it.

“When we come to that subject, it is tearfully difficult for him to talk about it.

“And he knows a lot of public sentiment is against him, and he knows there is nothing that he can do to make up for it.”

Summerville said since starting treatment, Li has done everything he can do as a mental health patient to better himself.

“What else would you want a person to do? What would you expect him to do?” asked Summerville.

“You would expect him to be remorseful and humble and willing to take medication, and join a support group, and be willing to be monitored. And he has done all these things.”

Summerville said he knows some people worry that Li could go off his medication if left on his own, but he said the reason he doesn’t believe that will happen is because Li suffers no major side effects from him medication.

“People stop medication because of side effects, and he doesn’t have any severe side effects.

“And he understands the importance of taking the medication, because he doesn’t want anything like this to ever happen again.”

Summerville also thinks people are confused about what Not Criminally Responsible means.

“He is not a prisoner. He is a patient.”

He also said the barbarity of what Li did to McLean is not a reason to assume he will reoffend.

“People don’t want to believe that, but studies have been done and show how you kill someone is not a reason to believe that you will reoffend.

 “It was totally horrific, but that is not a reason for people to assume something will happen again.”

Although Li was found NCR for the death of Tim McLean, Selkirk-Interlake MP James Bezan condemned the decision by the Manitoba Review Board, and called it an “insult to his victim’s family.”

“I am very concerned about Tim McLean’s family who has yet to see justice served,” said Bezan in a press release. “And I express my condolences to the family for this callous decision.

“In my opinion, this decision poses a great risk to public safety.”

Bezan said he still thinks Li he should be designated as “high risk.”

“The Crown has the ability to view Vince Li as a designated High Risk - Not Criminally Responsible person, but they have chosen not to,” said Bezan.

“They have blatantly ignored the rights of the victim’s family, and compromised the public safety of our community in its decision.  The Board did not take into consideration the family of Tim McLean, nor do they care about the public safety concerns raised by families living in Winnipeg and Selkirk.”

Bezan also made it clear that he does not think Li should be transitioned into a group home.

“The provincial decision to grant Mr. Li unescorted trips to Winnipeg, and to let him move into a Winnipeg group home is unacceptable,” said Bezan.

Summerville said he is worried that Bezan and other politicians are using the Vince Li decision for political gain.

“They are not psychiatrists and it is political pandering, and they should know better,” said Summerville.

Li’s treatment team has made it clear that the goal of treatment is to eventually reintegrate Li back into society.

LSSD seminar teaches respect for diversity

Rainbow Resource Centre education program coordinator Reece Malone gave a powerful speech at the LSSD Respecting Diversity and Creating Inclusive Spaces seminar at the Comp last Friday. 

RECORD PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER

By Dave Baxter

Originally published in the Selkirk Record

It was the words of one teacher that brought hope to Reece Malone’s life when it all seemed so hopeless.

Malone is the education program coordinator at Rainbow Resource Centre. The centre serves Manitoba’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community with counselling, education and other resources.

He spoke at the Lord Selkirk School Division’s (LSSD) Respecting Diversity and Creating Inclusive Spaces seminar at the Comp last Friday.  

Malone said from grade seven to grade 11 he experienced homophobia, and was bullied constantly and mercilessly.

Many of his teachers did nothing to help.

“I looked to my teachers to do something. To do anything,” said Malone.  “What they did was they looked away and they did nothing. 

“And some of them laughed too.”

He said he decided his only way out was to end his own life, and his suicidal thoughts became so prevalent that he even started giving his belongings away, because he figured he didn’t have much longer on this earth.

He said he heard a homophobic slur in his grade 10 biology class, and his teacher turned around and scolded the people who were using the word.

“The teacher turned around and said ‘I don’t tolerate that language in my classroom. I have gay friends and that offended me.’

“And then she simply turned back and continued her lesson plan.”

That single moment changed Malone’s life.

“That’s it, and that was the first time all of my suicidal feelings went away. It took the strength of one person to say 'that is inappropriate and offensive.’

“It is that action that saved my life, and those actions that will save the lives of others.”

The seminar saw all LSSD staff gather at the Comp for an entire day of training and education based around Manitoba’s new Bill 18.

There were keynote speaker and student speakers, and staff also spread out into small breakout sessions.

Under Bill 18, school divisions were required by June 30 to establish respect for human diversity policies that are consistent with the principles of the Human Rights Code, and work to create a safe and inclusive learning environment that is accepting of all students and staff. 

Bill 18 also requires school divisions to provide training for teachers and other staff about strategies for promoting respect for human diversity, and a positive learning environment.

The seminar on Friday was one of the first of what will be ongoing training for teachers and staff.

Malone said every single employee of every school division in Manitoba has to work to make kids feel safe and valued.

“All of us have a role in a young person’s life from kindergarten to grade 12,” said Malone. 

“You and I are paid to do a job that helps shape the lives of young people both socially and academically. That is such a privilege.”

He also reminded staff of how important they are in shaping kids futures even after they graduate and move on.

“They will remember you. We remember our teachers, our councillors, our bus drivers.

“I loved my bus driver. He asked me everyday when I entered the bus how I was doing and he met me with compassion and empathy. He was willing to go the extra mile and stick up for the underdog.”

It was not just teachers at Friday's seminar as every LSSD staff member from administration, to bus drivers, to janitorial staff took part.

LSSD superintendent Scott Kwasnitza said respecting diversity goes well beyond the classroom.

“If we limit it to classrooms, we limit the scope of where we want that safety and respect,” said Kwasnitza.

“There are so many places where we come in contact with kids and adults, and we all have a shared responsibility.”

He also said that Bill 18 is far more than just about respecting members of the LGBTQ community, but is a way to work towards respecting all staff and students despite their differences.

“Bill 18 is a piece of paper, but if we don’t follow those words with action and strategies we are really not living up to and protecting that safe and diverse learning environment for all of our students,” said Kwasnitza.

“We would expect that all our employees uphold the values and policies of the school division.”

Training and education surrounding the implementation of the policies in Bill 18 will continue in the LSSD and across the province.

Gliding on ice in St. Andrews

Tegan and Tyler Stoesz, and Brody James glide on the ice at the new outdoor pleasure rink at St. Andrews Community Club. The club’s manager built the outdoor rink for families and people of all ages to get out and get active in St. Andrews this winter. See story page ?

RECORD PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER

By Dave Baxter

Originally published in the Selkirk Record

Dean Gilkes has spent countless hours creating a way for families and people of all ages to get outside and get active in St. Andrews this winter.

Gilkes, the manager of St. Andrews Community Club has been hard at work flooding a large outdoor rink that he said is the perfect rink for families and people of all ages and skating skills.

“In Winnipeg they call them pleasure rinks, but here we call it the pond,” said Gilkes.

Dean Gilkes stands proudly on the outdoor pleasure rink he has been hard at work building at St. Andrews Community Club.

The rink is right next to the club’s outdoor hockey rink, but Gilkes said he built it as a place for families to skate without the fear of faster skaters running into them, or “hockey pucks flying at the heads.”

“It’s a lot of work and I’m out here flooding every day and sometimes twice a day, but I really wanted to create a rink for families, and I hope people will come and enjoy it.”

The rink starts right at the back door of the community club so people can get their skates on in the club, and step right outside onto the ice that stretches all the way from the back doors to behind the club’s main outdoor hockey rink.

Gilkes said people have definitely been taking advantage of the new rink so far.

“We’ve had days were there are a ton of people out here, and people really seem to be enjoying it.”

He also said he’s had some big help from the St. Andrews Fire Department.

“The beautiful thing is that I have never had help like this before,” said Gilkes. “The St. Andrews Fire Department came in with their fire trucks to give us loads of water.

“And they have always helped out here, but with me and them working together they said they have never seen the ice looking this good.”

He said he would specifically like to thank St. Andrews firefighters Don Peters and Ron Pawluk for all the help they have given to the project.

He said a few people were definitely skeptical when he announced his plans for the outdoor rink.

“They didn’t think someone would be this ambitious, and I know even the RM was skeptical.”

He is not done working on the rink yet, as he hopes to make benches out of snow on the side, and he also wants to build a slide that will let people slide right onto the ice.

He said novice hockey players are welcome to skate on the rink with their sticks and pucks, if they don’t feel comfortable playing with the more seasoned players on the club’s main outdoor hockey rink.

Tammy Keller was out on the rink last week with her son Harrison, and said she has not skated in years, but felt comfortable giving it a try on the new rink.

 Harrison and Tammy Keller had a great time skating on the outdoor rink at St. Andrews Community Club last week. 

“If you are a novice skater this is the perfect rink,” said Keller. “You are not afraid to get hit, so we are just having a great time out here.”

St. Andrews Community Club is located at 28 A St. Andrews Rd off of Hwy. 9 in St Andrews.

Domestic abuse survivor applauds Nova House announcement

Domestic abuse survivor Gorete Tavares, and Nova House executive director Anna Pazdzierski at last Thursday’s announcement that work will soon begin on a new Nova House women’s shelter.

RECORD PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER 

By Dave Baxter

Originally published in the Selkirk Record

Gorete Tavares says it is very scary to even think about how her life might look today if she had not found Nova House.

Tavares spent five years in an abusive relationship, and said over the five years the abuse got progressively worse to the point that she feared for her life.

“It came on very slowly and gradually,” said Tavares.  “But it was five years of it, and the last three months before I left I was physically abused daily.”

The fear of death is what finally pushed her to get out, and get help.

“My ex-husband almost killed me.  When I saw my life flash before my eyes right in from of my children, that is when I knew I had to get out.”

Nova House not only provided a safe place for her and her children, but it also educated her about domestic abuse.

“I learned everything I know about domestic violence from going there,” said Tavares.

She also said the people at Nova House always made her feel comfortable, even during the darkest moments in her life.

“Nova house has this very home-like feel,” said Tavares.

Nova House, along with the city of Selkirk and the province announced construction will soon begin on a brand new and much larger shelter, and Tavares said she knows how much it is needed.

She knows there was a chance she could have been turned away when she reached out to Nova House, and she said her life could be very different right now if they had not had room for her.

“I was very lucky to get a spot when I called, and I could have missed that opportunity and my life would probably be very different today.

“It was incredible and it changed my life. I have an amazing life, and if I hadn’t gone to Nova House it might not have happened.”

She also has a message for anyone experiencing domestic violence who is unsure of what to do.

“Get help and reach out to someone,” said Tavares. “Getting in touch with a place like Nova House can make all the difference."

Anyone experiencing domestic violence can call a free province wide 24-hour crisis line at 1-877-977-0007, or a local crisis line at 204-482-1200.

           

Nova House gets a new home

Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson, Finance Minister Greg Dewar, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, Jim and Betty Anne Gaynor, and Nova House executive director Anna Pazdzierski at Thursday’s announcement that construction will soon begin on a brand new home for Nova House.

PHOTO BY DAVE BAXTER

By Dave Baxter

Originally published in the Selkirk Record

Anna Pazdzierski has spent years telling anyone that would listen that Nova House desperately needs a new and bigger building.

And now that dream of a new building has finally come true thanks to the province, the city, and two very generous local residents.

Last Thursday the province, the city of Selkirk, and Nova House Inc. announced that construction of a new women’s shelter is expected to begin this spring.

The province will put $1 million into the project, while Jim and Betty Anne Gaynor have contributed $500,000 to the project.

The city of Selkirk announced it has donated a piece of land for the shelter valued at about $300,000.

Nova House is a women’s shelter that provides shelter, counselling, and support to women and families dealing with domestic violence.

For decades they have worked out of a facility with about 3,800 sq feet, but Pazdzierski said the new shelter is expected to have three floors with over 5,000 sq feet per floor.

“I am just ecstatic because today it is finally real,” said Pazdzierski.

“I kept thinking something would go wrong or someone would change their mind, but today it is real, and it is a wonderful day.”

Jim and Betty Anne Gaynor, who also contributed $1.5 million to get Selkirk’s new library off the ground, said they watched a presentation by Pazdzierski in 2013 where she talked about the urgent need for a new building.

From there the couple decided they would make a significant donation to the project, provided the city and the province would also come together to get something done quickly.

Pazdzierski said the Gaynor’s were the driving force behind Thursday’s announcement.

“They heard that presentation and decided they would spend the amount of time they have to see this project come to fruition, and that is just amazing.

“Without the Gaynor’s this wouldn’t have happened, and we would not be here.”

Minister of Family Services Kerri Irvin-Ross came to Selkirk last Thursday to take part in the announcement, and applauded the work Nova House does.

“Today is a really important day, and I don’t have to tell any of you about the impact of domestic violence to your city, and to municipalities, and the province, and the country,” said Irvin-Ross.

“Nova House for decades has provided a place of safety, shelter and support, but also hope for a brand new life, and a way forward for a woman to support herself and her family.”

Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson said organizations like Nova House have spent years changing the conversation about domestic violence, and is was crucial that Nova House get into a sufficient facility to continue to do the work they do.

“For decades before Nova House women suffered and there was domestic abuse, and it often went untouched and unreported,” said Johannson. “And I am sure there are probably a lot of people in this room that know about domestic abuse.

“We have changed that, and now we are going to change it again with a brand new women’s shelter.”

The city said they are still finalizing what piece of land will be used for the facility, and Nova House said they would release more details about the new building in the coming months.

Construction on the brand new women’s shelter is expected to start sometime this spring.