Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 10, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a18 a 18 Winnipeg free press Friday october 10, 2008 Canada Winnipeg repress. Com thanksgiving weekend hours Polo Park & st. Vital sat. 9 30 6 Sun. & Mon. 12 6 downtown sat. 9 30 5, Sun. & Mon. 12 5 Edmonton a sex offender facing fresh charges of sex crimes against children was injured in a fight with guards at the Edmonton remand Centre monday night. Danial Todd Gratton appeared in court thursday sporting a Black Eye and a bruised Temple As he sat hunched Over in the prisoners Dock. The office of the Alberta solicitor general confirmed later in the Day that he suffered injuries while being admitted to the jail after his arrest. Solicitor general spokesman Andy Weiler said Gratton became aggressive with staff and guards had to restrain him. He was checked by a remand Centre nurse. Gratton is now alleging he was assaulted by remand staff Weiler said. The Edmonton police service is investigating. Our staff Are highly trained professionals. Who have to Deal with these types of situations on an almost daily basis said Weiler. They Are trained in certain techniques. When they have to control an inmate. Not Only for the inmates safety but the staffs safety As Well. And those techniques sometimes involve taking an inmate to the floor and restraining them and thatus the Case that happened Here. Gratton 44, faces charges of sexual assault sexual interference abduction kidnapping and uttering death threats after a 10 year old girl was abducted on oct. 3. He also has been charged with sexual assault sexual interference abduction kidnapping and administering a noxious substance in connection with the abduction of a seven year old girl from a playground two Days later on oct. 5. Lisa Tchir the assistant chief Crown prosecutor said after or Attonis appearance thursday the Crown will oppose any release. Tchir also said that if convictions Are entered on the charges her office will consider pursuing dangerous offender status. In the first incident Edmonton police allege a Man pulled up to two 10 year old girls in the Cit yes North end and asked if they wanted ice Cream. One girl recognized the Man As a former tenant in their apartment building and ran Home to get her parents permission while the other girl got into the mans vehicle. The Man then drove away and allegedly assaulted the girl a Short distance away. A while later a Man dropped her off at the same location he met her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. Meanwhile police allege the same Man is responsible for the kidnapping of a seven year old girl Over the weekend that resulted in a province wide Amber Alert being issued. The girl was playing in an elementary school playground with her two Brothers when a Man approached her and told her he had Kittens for Sale. She was taken into his vehicle and dropped off four hours later at a restaurant in Wildwood alta., about 120 Kilometres West of Edmonton. In court thursday Gratton spoke with a court provided lawyer and asked for the court action to be delayed because he does not yet have a lawyer. Gratton is next scheduled to appear in court on oct. 23. Gratton was sentenced to six years in prison in 2002 for sexually assaulting six children including one girl he admitted assaulting at least 70 times Over a six month period. Can West news service q Xebec prominent abortion rights activist or. Henry Morgentaler will receive the order of Canada at a ceremony in Quebec City today the governor generals office said. His nomination to the order last july sparked controversy and highlighted the Divide Over abortion rights in Canada. It also prompted a handful of canadians to return their insignia including Jean Claude Cardinal Turcotte the roman Catholic archbishop of Montreal. But few protesters Are expected to disrupt fridays ceremony in a province where support for abortion is High. The Campaign life coalition a prolife group that has been a vocal opponent against the nomination said thursday it wont Send a significant contingent to Quebec City. If we get a dozen that will be Good because we Are Busy everywhere working on the election Campaign of pro life candidates said the groups National president Jim Hughes. Joanne Byfield president of anti abortionist group life Canada said the government caught them off guard by giving the order to Morgentaler in Quebec City in the midst of a Federal election Campaign and on the eve of the thanksgiving Long weekend. I think the whole thing has been designed to stifle protest Byfield said. We wont Send anyone to Quebec because its hard to mobilize people across the country within a Days notice. A spokeswoman for gov. Gen. Michelle Jean acknowledged ceremonies of the order of Canada Are rarely held outside Rideau Hall but stressed it Isnit a precedent. Fridays ceremony where the order of Canada will also be bestowed on 19 other canadians is taking place at the Citadel in Quebec City As part of the ceremonies surrounding the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City said the governor generals office. Morgen alerts publicist said the location of the ceremony Isnit a concern and noted he is particularly fond of Quebec since he first settled in Montreal when he arrived in Canada in 1950. Hers just thrilled he was honoured with this award said his assistant Shayna Hodgson. Morgentaler a polish holocaust survivor worked As a general practitioner before opening his first abortion clinic in Montreal in 1969, when the procedure was illegal. He won a supreme court of Canada decision in 1988 that struck Down Canadas Law against abortion As unconstitutional. Morgentaler 85, now runs six clinics across the country. The governor generals office noted in a press release issued thursday that Morgentaler has had a major Impact on Canadian Public policy. He is hailed for not hesitating to put himself at risk in his determined drive to increase health care options for Canadian women. The citation also adds Morgentaler has heightened awareness of a omens reproductive health issues among medical professionals and the Canadian Public. Can West news service Morgentaler to receive order of Canada today by Marianne White child sex offender injured by guards Tom Hanson / the Canadian press archives few expected to disrupt ceremony. A 18_ oct 10 08. Ind a18 10/ 9/ 08 5 31 35 pm ;