The brutal 2019 stabbing death of Calgary care worker Deborah Onwu continues to cast a long shadow over our city’s social services sector, with friends and colleagues still fighting for meaningful change four years after her tragic loss.
Walking through the Beltline neighborhood yesterday where Onwu worked, I couldn’t help but notice how little seems to have changed for frontline workers facing similar dangers. As someone who’s covered Calgary’s social issues for over a decade, the frustration expressed by those who knew her is palpable and justified.
“Deborah’s death could have been prevented,” Blessing Odoh told me, her voice steady but emotional as we sat at a coffee shop near the Wood’s Homes facility where her friend died. Odoh was among several friends who testified at the fatality inquiry that wrapped up last month.
The details remain haunting. Onwu, 47, was fatally stabbed while on an overnight shift at a Wood’s Homes assisted living facility by a teenager in her care. An experienced social worker who immigrated from Nigeria, she died almost immediately from catastrophic injuries.
What’s become increasingly clear through testimony is that multiple system failures created the conditions for this tragedy. Onwu was working alone with a client who had documented violent tendencies and complex needs – a situation her colleagues insist never should have happened.
Calgary Police Service records show the young man had a history of violence, including 27 documented incidents before the fatal attack. Many who testified questioned why he wasn’t placed in a more suitable facility with enhanced security protocols.
Wood’s Homes has implemented certain changes since the tragedy, including revised safety protocols and additional staff training. But many frontline workers tell me these measures don’t go far enough to address the fundamental issues that put staff at risk.
“We need provincial standards, not just individual agency policies,” explained Sarah Thompson, a veteran social worker who’s spent 15 years in Calgary’s social services sector. “Every time I start a shift, I think about Deborah.”
The fatality inquiry’s recommendations are expected later this year, with Judge Gordon Wong presiding. However, it’s worth noting that fatality inquiry recommendations aren’t legally binding – a frustration voiced by many in the social work community who fear real change might never materialize.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which represents many care workers, has been pushing for legislative changes including mandatory minimum staffing levels and enhanced security requirements. Their proposals have gained traction among workers but face uncertain political prospects.
Alberta’s Ministry of Children’s Services told me via email that they “take worker safety very seriously” and are “reviewing internal policies,” but stopped short of committing to specific regulatory changes.
For the tight-knit Nigerian community in Calgary that embraced Onwu as family, the wait for justice and meaningful reform has been agonizing. They describe a woman dedicated to helping the most vulnerable, whose compassion ultimately left her vulnerable herself.
“She believed everyone deserved care and respect,” said Pastor Emmanuel Adebayo, who led Onwu’s funeral service. “But the system failed to provide her that same care and respect.”
This case raises uncomfortable questions about how we value those working on society’s frontlines. Calgary spends millions attracting corporate investment and building impressive infrastructure, yet frontline social workers often operate in conditions that would be deemed unacceptable in other professions.
Calgary’s social services sector faces mounting pressures with increasing homelessness and addiction issues affecting every neighborhood. The city’s latest point-in-time count showed homelessness up 25% since 2018, while opioid-related calls to emergency services have doubled.
Those working closest with vulnerable populations increasingly feel vulnerable themselves. A survey by the Alberta College of Social Workers found 68% of Calgary respondents had experienced workplace violence or threats, with only 37% believing their employers had adequate safety measures.
As our city grapples with these realities, Onwu’s legacy demands more than sympathetic words. It requires a fundamental reassessment of how we protect those who protect our most vulnerable.
“We don’t want another Deborah,” Odoh told me as we concluded our conversation. “But without real change, I fear we’ll be here again, mourning another preventable loss.”
The clock is ticking on meaningful reform. The question remains whether Calgary and Alberta’s leadership will finally listen to those who’ve been sounding the alarm – before another tragedy forces their hand.
