Two men, one from Calgary and another from B.C., are facing charges after an attack on a woman this summer that police say was motivated by hate. On July 2, police were called to a restaurant in the 9600 block of Macleod Trail S.W. for reports of a woman in medical distress. “Witnesses reported that the woman had been using a portable washroom when two men walked up to the washroom and tipped it over with the door toward the pavement, leaving the woman trapped inside,” the Calgary Police Service (CPS) said in a news release. The woman was helped by witnesses and ultimately taken to the hospital for exposure to waste matter and toxic chemicals. CPS said she’s since recovered. ‘Incredibly traumatized’ A subsequent investigation into the incident determined that the two men involved are believed to have made comments about the victim’s gender and ethnicity prior to the assault. “This was a degrading and harmful assault that left the victim trapped, injured and in need of medical care,” said Sgt. Chelsea Francois of the CPS hate crime prevention team. “Hate-motivated crimes have a deep impact, not only on the person targeted but on the broader community. There is no place for hate in our city. If you see hate, report it.” Francois added the victim is “incredibly traumatized” by the assault, which “has a ripple effect” to affected communities. Tyson David Cann, 24, of Calgary, and Fynn Storm Ferrier, 24, of Kimberley, B.C., are each charged with assault causing bodily harm. CPS says hate motivation is considered by the courts during sentencing if the offenders are found guilty. It can be an aggravating factor that would add to an individual’s sentence. Reported hate crime rising in Calgary Calgary police say reports about hate crimes are rising in the city, while an advocacy group against oppression says reports to their agency are up too. “On ours we’ve seen a significant rise in the first quarter of 2026,” said Nina Saini, who is the executive director of Stop Hate Alberta. “When people think it may be an opinion it’s definitely not. You know the statistics to back this up and we have to start addressing it as a real fact after that’s happening in Calgary and in Alberta.” Police estimate about 80 per cent of hate crimes are unreported. Saini says the community isn’t safe until everyone is safe. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through either of the following methods:
