Homicide no indication downtown Winnipeg is unsafe: local businesses

A homicide in Winnipeg's downtown is not enough to convince some business managers that the area is not safe.

Police identified the victim of Tuesday's homicide as Cyril Quentin Weenusk, 26, of Oxford House, Man. They are expected to release more details late Wednesday afternoon. 

• Portage Avenue homicide victim ID'd as Cyril Weenusk
• Homicide investigation shuts down Portage Avenue for hours

Ken Berg of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) across from the scene calls Tuesday's killing one that happened "in isolation."

Police responded to the area at Portage and Donald Street — steps away from MEC — around 3:50 a.m. There, they found Weenusk, who was suffering from injuries and later died in hospital.

"As tragic as it is, it's just one incident," Berg said.

He also noted he doesn't know of any staff member who uses the Downtown Winnipeg's Biz's SafeWalk program, but he said that could be because he schedules shifts so no one will be off alone.

"Buddying up happens naturally," he said.

Kevin Donnelly of True North Sports and Entertainment said he also believes Tuesday's homicide was an "anomaly."

"Nothing has changed in terms of our [security] practices and policies at this point," he said hours after police started their investigation.

"We see it as isolated … I think that for the most part our staff, our patrons feel that the downtown is improving … We think that there is ample evidence that things are getting better."

Still, Donnelly acknowledges the time of the homicide — 3:50 a.m. — would have made it difficult to prevent through security measures, even if that was in the MTS Centre's plans.

"Something like this, off hours, is just so hard to manage," he said.

Winnipeg Downtown Biz working on safety strategy

The Downtown Winnipeg Biz is collaborating with the Winnipeg Police Service on a safety strategy, according to Shawn Matthews, manager of safety and development for the Biz.

"[We are looking at] what resources are needed, how we can work together, what are the hot spots in the downtown that need special attention," he said.

Although the strategy was on their radar before the homicide, Matthews said it reminded those at the Biz that additional resources are necessary.

Specifically, he is looking at when and where Downtown Watch patrols need to be deployed. Currently, none patrol Winnipeg streets after midnight.

"At that time at night there's not a lot of foot traffic or demand for the watch to be present," Matthews said.

"We have to ask these questions, perhaps in the future as more people are moving downtown, working downtown … do we need to start looking at longer hours of deployment?"