Security guards at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert who evicted a man and left him outside in the cold have been prohibited from working at Saskatchewan Health Authority facilities. The incident, which occurred on December 11, was captured in a bystander’s video and shared on social media, showing the man being pushed in a wheelchair by three security guards through the hospital parking lot. Another video depicted the man lying in the snow outside a nearby business complex.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority expressed regret for the incident’s impact on trust and safety for Indigenous patients and strongly denounced racism, including Indigenous-specific racism. City police in Prince Albert are investigating the situation and the videos. They responded to a disturbance report outside the hospital and found the man in the snow, ensuring he received medical attention.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) highlighted racism as a factor in the incident and called for the immediate dismissal of the involved security guards. PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte expressed some satisfaction with the response but emphasized the need for further action and discussions with relevant authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority intends to collaborate with PAGC to hire an Indigenous patient liaison for the hospital’s emergency department. Garda World Security, the company responsible for hiring the guards, stated that the individuals involved are currently suspended pending an investigation. The company acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and expressed willingness to address the concerns raised.