ManitobaJesse Wheatland, 35, has been charged in a string of arson attacks. Two of the businesses that were hit say Wheatland is a former employee.Fires at Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, Exchange Event Centre deliberately set by Jesse Wheatland, police sayCBC News · Posted: Nov 20, 2025 11:14 PM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Winnipeg police allege a fire that ripped through the Exchange Event Centre on Aug. 29 was deliberately set by Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland, a former employee of the club in the Exchange District. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)A man accused of setting a series of fires at a number of Winnipeg businesses and offices of Manitoba politicians previously worked at two of the locations that were targeted.Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland, 35, faces 22 charges related to arson, break-ins and damage to property at 11 locations since June 11. He was arrested Tuesday shortly after allegedly setting a fire at a provincial treatment centre on Magnus Avenue.Police said Wednesday Wheatland set fires or damaged property in the Exchange District and downtown, including at Johnny G’s, the Palomino Club, Boujee Restaurant, La Roca, Tipsy Cow, Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, and the Exchange Event Centre.The latter two businesses confirmed to CBC News that Wheatland used to work for them.He worked security at the Commonwealth bar a few times earlier this year, the owner said.Wheatland worked as a bar back for the Exchange Event Centre in 2022, management said. Both say they were on good terms with Wheatland and were surprised by news he allegedly set the fires.Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland, 35, is facing charges in association with fires set at 11 different locations in Winnipeg between June 11 and Nov. 18, according to police. (Facebook)Wheatland is also accused of being behind fires set at the offices of NDP MLAs Nahanni Fontaine and Bernadette Smith in their respective ridings of St. Johns and Point Douglas.In January, Wheatland voiced concerns in a Point Douglas Facebook group about the NDP’s plans at the time to open a supervised drug consumption site off Disraeli Freeway.”The recent declaration made by the province to approve and install a safe injection site is a story I’ve followed with great concern,” reads part of that post. “It appears the province and the project stakeholders do not share the same concern.”The NDP government later decided not to move forward with a supervised consumption site at that location on Disraeli, although it now plans to open a detox centre there primarily for people high on drugs like meth.After Wheatland’s arrest, Smith and Fontaine declined to comment on whether or not they had any previous interactions with him.”I am pleased to see that police have made progress here,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Thursday.Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe speaks during question period in the Legislature on Nov. 6. Wiebe said Thursday he was glad police have made an arrest in an investigation involving targeted arson at two NDP MLA constituency offices, as well as several commercial businesses, since June. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)Wiebe also touted an NDP security rebate program with $10 million earmarked for businesses that invest in bolstering their security systems.A business can get up to $2,500 back on money they invest in surveillance equipment, better lighting or other enhanced security features, Wiebe said.CBC News reached a family member of Wheatland’s Thursday who said they only learned of the charges when police made them public Wednesday. The family member said they were in shock and would not comment further.WATCH | Man accused of torching businesses once worked for 2 of them:Man arrested for arson targeted two former employersJesse Wheatland, 35, has been charged in a string of arson attacks. Two of the businesses that were hit say Wheatland is a former employee.With files from Mike Arsenault
Former employers among Winnipeg businesses allegedly targeted by accused arsonist
