WINNIPEG, MB – The Indian Students Association at the University of Manitoba and Ventura are working together to support the victim of a random attack that happened in Winnipeg earlier this year.

The attack was on an international student who was standing at a bus stop in late January when the assault happened. The student went downtown to set up his Social Insurance Number at Service Canada so he could begin looking for work to help pay for university.

The two organizations tracked this student down after hearing his story, and saw the extent of his injuries. The person has requested that he remain anonymous, and has agreed to allow Ventura to fundraise on his behalf with some proceeds going to the Indian Students Association at the University of Manitoba. The Indian Students Association will use the funds to assist and provide support to new international students at the Universaity of Manitoba.

“There is nothing more senseless than the violence this student was subjected to. He is really badly injured, and it will take a long time for him to heal. He has no family in Winnipeg and is all alone. Like a lot of students, he needs all the help he can get. So, we are stepping in to help.” Says Dhruv Patel, President of the Indian Students Association at the U of MB.

Both organizations will be working with him over the next few months to help him get his feet on the ground in Winnipeg, and to ensure he is well looked after while he heals.

“We can’t change what happened in the past, but we can change his future. We have been told money is tight, and his biggest concern is that he can’t work in the condition he is in. We are going to try and help him alleviate some of those stresses to help him feel better about choosing Winnipeg for his education,” says Tim Comack, Vice President of Ventura Land Company Inc.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for this individual, you can find it here.

Donations will help the victim deal with the financial obligations of being a student while he waits for his SIN card and obtains permission to work in Canada. With his current facial and body injuries, he will be unable to work for quite some time. Everyone involved is hoping to help him feel safe, welcome and a part of the community.

A special thanks to all the organizations that have agreed to step up to help this student:

• Clay Oven
• East India Company
• The Winnipeg Taxi Cab Association
• Romel Dhalla and National Bank Financial Ltd.
• Ventura Custom Homes Ltd. / Ventura Land Company Inc. / Ventura Developments Inc.

Manitoba Post with files from Dooley Communications