WINNIPEG, MB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that a complaint has been filed with Manitoba’s Law Enforcement Review Agency on behalf of Dr. Frances Widdowson, a Canadian academic known for encouraging open debate and discussion at public institutions across Canada, and another attendee, following violent opposition to Dr. Widdowson at the University of Winnipeg on September 26, 2025, during which police failed to respond to multiple emergency calls.

Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre filed the complaint on March 24, 2026, alleging that members of the Winnipeg Police Service failed to respond to at least eight separate 911 calls, including one reporting the presence of organized gangs. The Law Enforcement Review Agency is mandated to investigate whether any officer committed a “disciplinary default,” including failing to assist or exercising discretion improperly.

The complaint is supported by a detailed review of the full incident, including hours of video evidence.

In the days leading up to the event, there were clear indications of potential violence. Police had warned the University of Winnipeg on September 23 about possible protests. Prior to the event, Dr. Widdowson forwarded online threats she had received to police. On September 25, police provided University of Winnipeg campus security with contact information while attending a separate event at the University of Manitoba. Police said they would be in touch ahead of the event. Campus security also contacted police on September 26, prior to the event, to provide an update.

Dr. Widdowson arrived on campus at approximately 1:45 p.m. on September 26. Within minutes, the first physical confrontation occurred when her videographer, Manitoban Computer Science professor, Daniel Page, was confronted and had his camera grabbed. Approximately 25 minutes later, at 2:20 p.m., the first known 911 call was made by an attendee after his hand and back were injured. Campus security placed its first 911 call shortly thereafter at approximately 2:25 p.m. Over the next hour, additional calls were made, including two more from campus security and at least four from Dr. Widdowson and her attendees, with the last known call placed at approximately 3:33 p.m. Police assured one caller, who told police an organized gang was present, that they would attend but officers never arrived.

Video evidence from the day suggests that protest crowds became increasingly emboldened over the course of the afternoon as campus security largely watched from the sidelines.

A comprehensive review of the incident indicates that there were at least 15 threats, multiple instances of property damage and mischief, and 28 separate assaults, including shoving, spitting, choking, punching, and unlawful confinement. Dr. Widdowson appears to have been assaulted multiple times and, at one point, surrounded by protesters who attempted to drag her off campus. Daniel Page repeatedly identified himself to demonstrators as a professor present to hear all perspectives, document the event, and uphold the academic mission of the University of Winnipeg. Despite this, he was physically driven off campus and later assaulted when he returned.

Constitutional lawyer Glenn Blackett said, “Constitutional freedoms are illusory if government doesn’t maintain basic law and order. We regress into the pre-civilizational rule that ‘might is right.’ It seems that protesters noticed law enforcement was not responding, so they escalated and, of course, freedom of expression went out the window.”

Mr. Blackett added, “When asked, the Police Service did not tell us why they ignored eight separate 911 calls for help. It’s hard to imagine that it was prioritizing other calls, as this happened on an otherwise pleasant Friday afternoon. I look forward to the Agency investigating and holding decision makers to account.”

The complaint asks the Law Enforcement Review Agency to investigate whether officers failed in their duty to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law during the incident.