Emergency situation ends at University of Manitoba, where police ...

Darren Bernhardt · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 19, 2024 8:56 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The emergency at the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus has concluded and the shelter in place has been lifted, police say.

"It has been determined that there is no imminent threat to public safety. The major crimes unit continues to investigate this matter," a notice from the Winnipeg Police Service said just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A news conference about the incident has been scheduled for 1 p.m. at police headquarters. CBC Manitoba will livestream it here and on CBC Gem.

Reports of a man armed with a knife prompted police to swarm the campus in south Winnipeg and prompted the cancellation of most classes.

Police first issued a public advisory at 7:30 a.m., asking people to avoid the immediate area around the Allen Building, at 30 Sifton Rd.

"There's a lot of people that are trying to locate this male right now, and we want people to remain safe," police spokesperson Const. Claude Chancy said around 8 a.m.

There were multiple officers from the tactical team, canine unit and general patrol on scene at that time. By 10 a.m., though, all but one of the police vehicles had left the campus.

The initial 911 call came around 6:30 a.m. from a student who reported seeing a man with a large kitchen knife in the Allen Building, Chancy said.

Major crimes investigators are now speaking to the person who made the initial report, he said.

The building — the physics laboratory, not a student residence — was unoccupied because classes hadn't yet started for the day.

"The building is currently locked down. There's no access in and out," Chancy said at 8 a.m. "We are aware, too, that the Allen Building has a system of underground corridors, as well, so that's all being covered as well."

A notice from the university sent to students and staff informed them most classes were cancelled for the day. However, classes that had already started in other buildings, before the notice was sent out, continued as usual.

All virtual classes and those located on the U of M's Bannatyne campus are also going ahead Tuesday.

"If you are on [Fort Garry] campus, remain where you are, stay in place, and lock all doors. If you are not on campus, please do not come to campus," the morning notice from the university said.

An updated notice later in the morning said the shelter advisory was over and business could resume. The class cancellations remained in place for the rest of the day.

Student Mikhail Precourt said while the situation was unfortunate, he was fine with missing class.

"I hope nobody gets hurt but I'm definitely happy that my lab is cancelled, just not the way I would want it to be cancelled, obviously," Precourt said before the emergency ended.