Latest news with #GeorgeHenrie
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Langley RCMP seize $45,000 cash mailed from Nunavut, linked to July assault involving two Edmonton men
A package of $44,990 cash mailed from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut to Langley, B.C. may have provided a link in the brutal beating incident involving two Edmonton men that sent two men to hospital last month. Around 4 a.m. on July 8, Cambridge Bay RCMP responded to a report that two men had been assaulted and taken for medical treatment. 'Preliminary investigation indicated that two male suspects, known to the victims, assaulted them with a weapon in a residence on Tuktu Street. Both victims sustained serious injuries and were flown south (to Edmonton) for further treatment,' said Sgt. George Henrie of the RCMP. According to a relative, the two Cambridge Bay residents had been confined, tied to a chair, and beaten with tools and tortured with what sounded like waterboarding. 'They covered their faces with a towel and started pouring boiling water on them,' the woman said. 'They hit them with shovels and hammers all over their body.' The two had hobbled to a relative's home two doors down, and were taken for medical treatment. On July 10, four suspects were identified at the airport where they were waiting for a flight out of Cambridge Bay. They were reportedly recognized by locals, who called RCMP. With 1,760 residents, Cambridge Bay is the largest of two hamlets on Victoria Island. Package seized According to a Thursday news release, after continuing their investigation into the July 8 assault RCMP discovered a package had been mailed from Cambridge Bay to Langley, B.C. through Canada Post, and that the package was linked to the assault. They enlisted Langley RCMP, who used a search warrant on July 18 to seize the package from Canada Post as proceeds of crime. With the assistance of the Iqaluit RCMP's General Investigative Section, four men — including two from Edmonton — have been charged in connection with the assault. Police charged Ly Gabriel Galido, 22, of Edmonton, Ayaan Kamran Warsi, 19, of Edmonton, and Hadi Alhashesh, 19, of Chilliwack B.C., with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm without a licence, two counts of forcible confinement, two counts of pointing a firearm, trafficking a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime, and robbery with a firearm. Police also charged Joshua MacPherson, 19, of Cambridge Bay with two counts of assault. Related Two Edmonton men charged in brutal Cambridge Bay assault 'Incredibly disturbing': Police release video, seek witnesses after cyclist struck in northeast Edmonton You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
After again declaring suicide a crisis in Nunavut, officials and advocates look for new solutions
Social Sharing WARNING: This story discusses suicide. Victoria Madsen, Nunavut's assistant deputy minister of health, admits she was initially skeptical when she found out a few years ago about all the territorial funding allocated for some community initiatives. She questioned what music classes, sports or fishing derbies had to do with suicide prevention. However, she soon realized what those events can mean to people. "All year they practice, they look forward to it. It's a community event. It's part of the community's identity," she said. Now, Madsen encourages Nunavut's hamlets to apply for that funding, to help create those safe spaces and build stronger community ties. She also says there's no one single solution to suicide prevention, and that it's about more than just hiring more counselors – which is why Nunavut is still faced with a suicide crisis, 10 years after it was first declared. At a news conference in 2022, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed estimated suicide rates in Inuit Nunangat to be five to 25 times higher than the rate in the rest of Canada. In June, the Nunavut government again declared suicide a crisis in the territory. And last month, some of the partners in the territory's fourth suicide prevention action plan convened to talk about the next steps. Sgt. George Henrie, the RCMP's community policing officer in Nunavut, was among those in attendance. He said one concern that he took away from the meetings is the apparent gap between elders and youth. He believes youth today face different pressures with the advent of social media. "With the loss of language and some cultural disconnect, it makes it hard for a grandparent and elder to help give advice," he said. "I believe that as we try to come up with a strategy to help them, it's going to have to evolve with the times." Suicide prevention more than just seeing a counselor Madsen said she often hears people calling for more counselors and mental health staff when it comes to suicide prevention. There's a place for that, she says, but she also believes it's about creating safe and supportive living environments. That could involve teaching children coping skills while they're young, reducing the rates of overcrowding in homes, or helping people heal from trauma. "If they're going back to a home that's not safe or has high addiction in that home, or if there's domestic violence, seeing a counselor every few days isn't going to change that," she said. Jasmine Redfern, the Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association president, says she is heartened to see suicide being more openly talked about today, compared to when she worked on suicide prevention for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in the 2010s. She says an unsafe home environment is a major risk factor for suicide as it can create a feeling of helplessness. With violence, she believes there are two truths to acknowledge: how it's influenced by intergenerational trauma, but also how that isn't an excuse for inflicting harm on others. "It's important to be able to name when inappropriate coping strategies or behaviours are happening, without causing shame … and encouraging them toward better choices," she said. That involves pointing both the perpetrators and victims of violence to the services and support available, which she believes is everybody's responsibility. RCMP first port of call in mental distress Even in non-violent situations, RCMP are often the first port of call when someone is in mental distress. Sgt. George Henrie said the police are among the few agencies in Nunavut available 24/7. "Some people might think that they're [the police and family members] punishing the person that might be struggling with mental health … there might be some fear of retaliation, anger or resentment," he said. However, Henrie still urges people to call the police if they don't know where to get help. He said Nunavut RCMP officers do get additional training on how to respond to mental health crises, and they're taught that jail shouldn't be the only option for someone in distress. In 2021, there were 2,872 mental health-related calls to the Nunavut RCMP, 3,019 in 2022, 3,246 in 2023 and 3,066 last year. For context, that's among the roughly 38,000 service calls RCMP receive each year. In other parts of Canada, there are response models for people in distress which rely less on police. In Nunavik, there is Saqijuq's mobile intervention team, which pairs police officers with social workers to respond to certain calls. In Canada's largest city, a community crisis service funded by the City of Toronto is now operating in all parts of the city. Madsen said the Nunavut government and the RCMP had previously explored the possibility of a different crisis response model where police aren't the default responders. However, they found that many calls about people in distress often involved someone who is intoxicated, which would require police support. Madsen said RCMP can still ask for help from local mental health nurses if a person in distress is known to local health workers, and they're pushing to have more Inuktitut speakers to respond to calls. Monitoring people at risk To track cases of people with suicidal ideation, Madsen said there is an ongoing pilot for a mental health surveillance system in place in roughly half a dozen communities. That system documents people who present to a health centre with suicidal ideation, but that system relies on somebody coming forward. However, Madsen said there are also outreach workers and youth facilitators involved in community programs across the territory. They are also tasked with following up with youth who present struggles, which Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatiggit (Embrace Life Council) then follows up on. "They're very good at educating just the public on, if you think someone has suicidal ideation, this is how you can try to help them," she said. A lot of this work falls on territorial institutions, but she said everybody has a collective responsibility to look out for each other. "We need the communities to see what they need, what will bring them together, what will give the kids a sense of hope and purpose." If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
After again declaring suicide a crisis in Nunavut, officials and advocates look for new solutions
WARNING: This story discusses suicide. Victoria Madsen, Nunavut's assistant deputy minister of health, admits she was initially skeptical when she found out a few years ago about all the territorial funding allocated for some community initiatives. She questioned what music classes, sports or fishing derbies had to do with suicide prevention. However, she soon realized what those events can mean to people. "All year they practice, they look forward to it. It's a community event. It's part of the community's identity," she said. Now, Madsen encourages Nunavut's hamlets to apply for that funding, to help create those safe spaces and build stronger community ties. She also says there's no one single solution to suicide prevention, and that it's about more than just hiring more counselors – which is why Nunavut is still faced with a suicide crisis, 10 years after it was first declared. At a news conference in 2022, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed estimated suicide rates in Inuit Nunangat to be five to 25 times higher than the rate in the rest of Canada. In June, the Nunavut government again declared suicide a crisis in the territory. And last month, some of the partners in the territory's fourth suicide prevention action plan convened to talk about the next steps. Sgt. George Henrie, the RCMP's community policing officer in Nunavut, was among those in attendance. He said one concern that he took away from the meetings is the apparent gap between elders and youth. He believes youth today face different pressures with the advent of social media. "With the loss of language and some cultural disconnect, it makes it hard for a grandparent and elder to help give advice," he said. "I believe that as we try to come up with a strategy to help them, it's going to have to evolve with the times." Suicide prevention more than just seeing a counselor Madsen said she often hears people calling for more counselors and mental health staff when it comes to suicide prevention. There's a place for that, she says, but she also believes it's about creating safe and supportive living environments. That could involve teaching children coping skills while they're young, reducing the rates of overcrowding in homes, or helping people heal from trauma. "If they're going back to a home that's not safe or has high addiction in that home, or if there's domestic violence, seeing a counselor every few days isn't going to change that," she said. Jasmine Redfern, the Amautiit Nunavut Inuit Women's Association president, says she is heartened to see suicide being more openly talked about today, compared to when she worked on suicide prevention for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in the 2010s. She says an unsafe home environment is a major risk factor for suicide as it can create a feeling of helplessness. With violence, she believes there are two truths to acknowledge: how it's influenced by intergenerational trauma, but also how that isn't an excuse for inflicting harm on others. "It's important to be able to name when inappropriate coping strategies or behaviours are happening, without causing shame … and encouraging them toward better choices," she said. That involves pointing both the perpetrators and victims of violence to the services and support available, which she believes is everybody's responsibility. RCMP first port of call in mental distress Even in non-violent situations, RCMP are often the first port of call when someone is in mental distress. Sgt. George Henrie said the police are among the few agencies in Nunavut available 24/7. "Some people might think that they're [the police and family members] punishing the person that might be struggling with mental health … there might be some fear of retaliation, anger or resentment," he said. However, Henrie still urges people to call the police if they don't know where to get help. He said Nunavut RCMP officers do get additional training on how to respond to mental health crises, and they're taught that jail shouldn't be the only option for someone in distress. In 2021, there were 2,872 mental health-related calls to the Nunavut RCMP, 3,019 in 2022, 3,246 in 2023 and 3,066 last year. For context, that's among the roughly 38,000 service calls RCMP receive each year. In other parts of Canada, there are response models for people in distress which rely less on police. In Nunavik, there is Saqijuq's mobile intervention team, which pairs police officers with social workers to respond to certain calls. In Canada's largest city, a community crisis service funded by the City of Toronto is now operating in all parts of the city. Madsen said the Nunavut government and the RCMP had previously explored the possibility of a different crisis response model where police aren't the default responders. However, they found that many calls about people in distress often involved someone who is intoxicated, which would require police support. Madsen said RCMP can still ask for help from local mental health nurses if a person in distress is known to local health workers, and they're pushing to have more Inuktitut speakers to respond to calls. Monitoring people at risk To track cases of people with suicidal ideation, Madsen said there is an ongoing pilot for a mental health surveillance system in place in roughly half a dozen communities. That system documents people who present to a health centre with suicidal ideation, but that system relies on somebody coming forward. However, Madsen said there are also outreach workers and youth facilitators involved in community programs across the territory. They are also tasked with following up with youth who present struggles, which Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatiggit (Embrace Life Council) then follows up on. "They're very good at educating just the public on, if you think someone has suicidal ideation, this is how you can try to help them," she said. A lot of this work falls on territorial institutions, but she said everybody has a collective responsibility to look out for each other. "We need the communities to see what they need, what will bring them together, what will give the kids a sense of hope and purpose." If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:
CBC
21-03-2025
- CBC
Someone in Nunavut was scammed out of $3M last year. RCMP are still trying to find out who did it
Social Sharing Nearly $3 million was lost in a single incident of spear-phishing in Nunavut last year, according to the RCMP. Nunavut RCMP Cpl. George Henrie told CBC News because the case is still under investigation, no further details will be released. Henrie also said no one has been charged in connection to the incident. According to data provided to CBC News by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, almost all of Nunavut's $3,006,533.67 fraud losses in 2024 were from a single victim of spear phishing, who lost $2,956,653.67. The Nunavut RCMP put out a notice in November, warning people about an increase in "fraudulent activity" in the territory, but did not mention the $3-million loss. Highly targeted attacks Kwasi Boakye-Boateng, a research associate with the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity, said spear phishing is "highly targeted" compared to other types of phishing scams. Whereas regular phishing could ask for general information, spear phishing usually targets specific individuals or organizations. "For spear phishing to actually succeed, they would have to first personalize themselves as someone the victim knows," Boakye-Boateng said. "So attackers would go on various, for example, social media websites or read emails, go to LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, anywhere they can get relevant information about who they want to impersonate," he said. Boakye-Boateng said it used to be easier to detect attacks over email because words would be spelled wrong or details would be incorrect. Artificial intelligence has changed that. "Now, because there's ChatGPT, or all these other names out there, adversaries can easily craft emails that are well-written and make a lot of sense." For example, he said, someone could send a fake LinkedIn request that asks for login details before accepting. Those details would then be stolen and used to impersonate someone. "What I would recommend people to do is that anytime you receive an email, you need to check who's [it] being sent from. You need to sometimes hover the mouse over the sender and then you can notice that, OK, the e-mail address isn't in the right format." Boakye-Boateng said people should also call the person in question to verify it's them who sent the email. Jeff Horncastle, client and communications officer at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, said it's not extremely common for spear phishing scams to be into the millions of dollars, but people should always be cautious. He said spear phishing could also look like an invoice sent to a contractor. "So if you get a request, even if the invoice is the actual, you know, invoice number, we have to remember that the supplier's network could be infiltrated," Horncastle said. "So we want to add a second verification step where the victim is picking up the phone and verifying with the supplier." In an email to CBC News, a spokesperson from the Nunavut government said they were not the target of the November 2024 attack. The data for Nunavut is part of a feature for CBC's Marketplace airing Friday.
