Winnipeg student chased by homeless person in forest during school gym class, suffers injuries: LRSD

No charges will be laid after a group of students were chased through a park by a homeless person during a gym class.

A Grade 9 student at a Winnipeg school was injured following an encounter with a homeless person during an outdoor gym class on Tuesday.

According to a letter sent to parents of students at College Jeanne-Sauve, a Grade 9 physical education class was in the Dakota Forest with their teacher, and a group of students walked by a tent.

The letter said an “unsheltered person” came out of the tent and chased after the group, catching up to one of the students, causing some injuries.

Christian Michalik, superintendent of the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD), did not have information available about the injuries suffered by the student and how they were caused, but said the student did not require further medical attention.

The letter said police went to the forest to follow up, and students were told to avoid the forest before lunch.

Michalik said police have been contacted to deal with the situation.

READ ALSO: Committee passes motion prohibiting encampments near Winnipeg schools, playgrounds

A statement from Winnipeg Police said they investigated and there are insufficient grounds to charge the unsheltered male.

Michalik said the incident is concerning.

“We are acknowledging in the City of Winnipeg that we have a homelessness problem that we absolutely must resolve,” he said. “We are with a situation that expresses itself in this way, and there’s an immediate response that we’re seeing play out, but there is a much larger societal response that we need to see happen.”

Michalik said staff have been told to avoid going to Dakota Forest until police confirm their follow-up actions with the person.

“We’ll want to be vigilant as a result of this incident in the coming days and weeks, but I am confident that we will be back in the forest again soon,” he said.