ManitobaThe University of Manitoba says it bears no responsibility for an incident last fall in which a student was assaulted in her own dorm room, and is placing some of the blame on the woman for not locking her door prior to the attack.Former student suing school after she was attacked in her room in 2024Dave Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Aug 20, 2025 11:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe Arthur V. Mauro Residence at the University of Manitoba’s south Winnipeg campus is shown in a file photo from October 2024. The university has submitted a statement of defence in a lawsuit filed by a woman who was attacked while sleeping in her room at the residence. (Justin Fraser/CBC)WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.The University of Manitoba says it bears no responsibility for an incident last fall in which a student was assaulted as she slept in her own dorm room, and is placing some of the blame on the woman for not locking her door prior to the attack.In a statement of defence filed with the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench on Aug. 15, the university asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the now-former student, who alleged the school did not take adequate measures to keep her safe while she was living on campus.At around 4:45 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2024, Garry Junior Edwards — who had been convicted of two violent sexual assaults in 2013 — gained access to the Arthur V. Mauro Residence, located at the university’s south Winnipeg campus, and broke into the woman’s room, according to police.Police said the woman fought him off during the assault and was later treated for injuries. Edwards was arrested and charged with sexual assault, robbery, breaking and entering, and attempting to overcome resistance by choking, suffocating or strangling a person.The woman, who has since withdrawn as a student at the U of M, filed a statement of claim in May that alleged the university’s lack of adequate safety measures and enforcement made it possible for her to be attacked by a stranger on school property while she was vulnerable.Her lawsuit claims the university “created the opportunity” for the suspect to encounter the woman, by failing to put proper safety measures in place, something now being disputed in the statement of defence.”The university denies the perpetrator exploited an opportunity created by the University’s failure,” the statement of defence reads in part.It also claims that any physical or psychological harm should be blamed on the perpetrator and not the university, as according to the statement of defence, “any harm caused to the plaintiff was solely as a result of the perpetrator’s behaviour.”As well, the university’s court filing denies that it “owes a duty of care or a fiduciary to the plaintiff,” and attempts to shift some blame for the assault onto the woman.”The university states that if the plaintiff has suffered loss or damages, which is denied, such loss or damages were not caused by the university but was caused in whole or in part by the plaintiff failing to ensure the door to her room at the premises was locked, such that the perpetrator was able to gain access to her room,” the filing reads in part.The woman stated in her claim that as a result of the attack, she has experienced physical pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, insomnia and night terrors.She is seeking general damages, special damages, punitive damages and aggravated damages. Her statement of claim, which did not include a specific cost figure, also seeks coverage for past and future health-care services.None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court.For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. The Winnipeg Police Service says anyone who has experienced sexual assault can access victim services at 204-986-6350 or through the Klinic sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631.
University of Manitoba denies responsibility in dorm room assault
