Winnipeg activist concerned by sharp increase in private security guards in Manitoba amid string of incidents

A Winnipeg activist worries the number of security guards in Manitoba is growing too quickly, arguing it’s putting some people at risk.

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of private security guards in the province jumped by more than 900.

Vivian Ketchum, who recently organized demonstrations against racial profiling by security guards in Winnipeg, say the addition of hundreds of new licensed guards creates an imbalance between private security and community.

“I would like to see more cultural-sensitivity training, not only for Indigenous training, but for other cultures there,” Ketchum told CityNews. “And they can work together with other organizations so we can have better training for security guards.

“This has always been there, and it has gotten worse over the past five years.”

Conversations around security guards have reignited in Winnipeg after several high-profile incidents between members of the public and security guards.

Most notable was the incident at a Portage Avenue Dollarama late last month that saw a security guard appear to attack an alleged shoplifter with a lengthy criminal history. The altercation was caught on video and widely condemned.

Both men involved are facing charges. The security guard was charged with assault with a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon and uttering death threats; the alleged shoplifter was charged with robbery and uttering threats.

Security guards are regulated under Manitoba’s Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, with the number of licences issued under the act fluctuating annually.

Records from the registrar show there were a total of 8,992 licensed guards in 2024-25, compared to 8,064 in 2023-2024. There were 8,185 licences in 2022-23 and 8,459 in 2021-22, compared to only 6,588 in 2020-21.

The number of complaints that actually reach the registrar are minimal, roughly 40 to 60 a year.

“It’s not an accurate picture,” said Ketchum. “Most of the people that are getting harassed by security guards are vulnerable and street people. Do street people have online access, do they have access to computers? No. They don’t. And are they aware of how they can complain? No.”

Complaints against guards are first filed privately, the province tells CityNews.

“Employers are primarily responsible for addressing staff conduct, while the province becomes involved when licensing or regulatory action may be required, including revocation or when a licence is suspended pending investigation of an incident. Overall, cases requiring provincial intervention are limited,” a provincial spokesperson said in a statement.

Ketchum believes the existing approach needs to change so all complaints filed are examined by the regulating authority, as opposed to being left to the private firms.

She also feels there needs to be more training for the guards and more support.

“They’re dealing with a lot of violence and they need mental-health support so that it doesn’t build up and they blow up,” the Winnipeg activist said.

CityNews reached out to several private security firms in Winnipeg but did not immediately hear back.

Over the weekend, officials at Impact Security – the firm for which the now-fired Dollarama security guard previously worked – the province and community members gathered for a forum on security.