Shopper safety top of mind at Cornwall Centre after apparent Canadian terrorist threat

REGINA – More than eight million shoppers visit the Cornwall Centre in Regina every year, but it only takes one person to create chaos.

Security knows that all too well after a 15-year-old walked in the shopping centre last spring and stabbed four people at random.

Cornwall Centre’s General Manager, Doug Kozka, said funding has been increased since the attack to support things including personnel, training and technology.

“With things that have happened in the world the last couple of years we do spend more time and money on resources than we have in the past,” he said.

There was heightened security at the shopping centre Monday and Kozka said security was in communication with police following a video released recently allegedly by Somali extremist group Al-Shabaab.

The video is yet to be authenticated but names Alberta’s West Edmonton Mall as a possible target.

Chris Kilford with Queen’s University Centre for International Defense Policy said the video may have more bark than bite.

“Many more Canadians die on the roads from drunk driving and other situations that occur in our day to day lives, so we have to be careful how we react and respond to these videos,” he said.  “Prudent measures have to be taken but let’s not overreact.”

Other buildings in the city are working to increase their security measures.

The Parliament Hill shooting in Ottawa last October prompted a safety review at Saskatchewan’s legislative building, with the Sergeant-at-Arms asking for metal detectors and more surveillance cameras.

MLA Jeremy Harrison sits on the Board of Internal Economy and said it’s challenging finding a balance between security for employees and remaining open to the public.

“We do want to make sure it’s the people’s house and that they have the opportunity to visit the assembly, to view proceedings, to tour the assembly, but balanced with an appropriate security environment,” he explained.

So far $100,000 has been set aside for security improvements at the legislature, but exactly what those will be is waiting on recommendations in a report by RCMP.

Meantime, the RCMP is working to authenticate the apparent Al-Shabaab video and say there is currently no evidence or any specific imminent threat to Canadians.