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The official Opposition says violent encounters will keep happening in Saskatchewan hospitals if the Sask. Party government doesn’t address safety and security concerns of patients and staff.
Saskatoon police are investigating the death of a patient at Royal University Hospital on Jan. 9, and working with the coroner’s office to determine whether or not the death is suspicious.
A patient died that morning after a “physical altercation” with hospital security, according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
CBC News has confirmed the deceased is Trevor Dubois. Friends and family have posted about the death, although Saskatoon police and the SHA have not released the name of the deceased.
Dubois made a positive impact in many communities and helped a lot of people, his family said in a statement to CBC News.
“The loss of Trevor has been a devastating shock to all who knew him,” the statement said.
The family wants answers about what happened in the patient room leading up to the altercation, and believes the death was preventable. Dubois was in hospital undergoing chemo treatment for brain cancer.
“We were left in the dark about what led up to this event resulting in the horrific death of Trevor,” the family statement said.
“He wasn’t known for any violence and had an infectious laugh that will forever be remembered by everyone who knows him.”
The Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) has scheduled a news conference with some of Dubois’ family and STC Chief Mark Arcand for Monday morning in Saskatoon. The SHA is “coordinating with the Saskatoon Tribal Council to provide supports to the patient’s family and loved ones,” the SHA said on Jan. 9.
When asked about Dubois’ death, a SHA spokesperson said “The SHA has no further details to provide at this time.”
Hospital security staff were called to a patient’s room when staff reported “a safety concern involving an admitted patient,” according to the SHA’s only public statement about the incident, which was sent to media on Jan. 9.
“During the response, a physical altercation occurred between the patient and SHA Protective Services Officers, and the patient became unresponsive. Medical staff responded to provide patient care and pronounced the patient deceased.”
Hospitals should be safe: NDP
Hospitals should be safe for patients and staff alike, NDP deputy leader Vicki Mowat said in a statement.
“Safety is becoming a top issue for workers at all Saskatoon hospitals … We’ve also heard from patients who are avoiding the emergency room due to the chaos there,” Mowat wrote.
“We again are demanding [Premier] Scott Moe and his Health Minister [Jeremy Cockrill] step forward immediately… and spell out clearly what steps they will take to improve safety.”
Saskatchewan NDP deputy leader Vicki Mowat says the province is failing to keep patients and staff in hospitals safe. Mowat is speaking to reporters in this file photo from Oct. 27, 2025. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)
Protective Services officers are SHA employees. Some health-care facilities contract security guards through security companies such as GardaWorld.
Dubois’ death was deemed a critical incident, which initiates a legislated process that includes a formal internal review.
Last month, the SHA promised to work with Prince Albert Grand Council to hire an Indigenous patient liaison to work in the Victoria Hospital emergency department after security guards evicted a man from the building and left outside in the cold. The contracted security guards involved are now banned from working in SHA facilities.
In November, Saskatoon police arrested a man who brought knives and a gun into St. Paul’s Hospital and threatened staff, prompting the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to call for metal detectors in all hospitals.
A pilot project will use artificial intelligence technology to detect weapons at Royal University Hospital, the SHA said in December.
The NDP also demanded the province develop an emergency plan to improve safety for workers and patients in hospitals.
“From what we can tell, the Sask. Party hasn’t acted on this request,” Mowat said in the statement.
“There are many causes of the mounting chaos we see in our emergency rooms and they must all be addressed — lack of social supports in the community, staffing shortages and burnout, and a lack of primary care to name a few. However, safety cannot take a backseat during this chaos.”