St. Catharines community calls for coroner’s inquest into Indigenous woman’s death

Family, friends, and community members gathered in St. Catharines on Friday for a round dance to honor the life of Heather Winterstein, a young Indigenous woman who died at a St. Catharines hospital last year. The community has been calling for a coroner’s inquest into her death.

According to her family, Winterstein went to the emergency room with severe back pain on Dec. 9th, 2021. Her mother says the staff gave her Tylenol and told her to go home.

Winterstein returned the next day when the pain intensified, but her family says she was left in the waiting room until she collapsed. Winterstein died that night from Group Strep A, a flesh-eating disease. Her mother and community members feel her death could have been prevented.

“She was part of a marginalized group that she was a recovering addict as well and it was unfortunate that my feeling is that there was a judgment made about her which resulted in her unfortunate passing,” Francine Shimizu said.

A coroner’s investigation that was launched still isn’t complete. Niagara Health conducted its own internal review earlier this year and shared the findings with the family. This week, in memory of Heather Winterstein, Niagara Health is beginning an external assessment of the emergency department to improve patient care and experiences for Indigenous people.

Shimizu is happy that they’re taking these steps, “I’m hoping as a result of this there’s going to be some super change.”

The assessment will conclude in mid-2023 with a public report of findings and recommendations that will help support a high-performing emergency department that provides quality care for Indigenous people.

The family and community say more needs to be done including a coroner’s inquest. According to the office of the chief coroner, a decision hasn’t been made yet. In a statement, they say “inquests generally only take place when all other investigations and any prosecutions have been conducted…”

The community is also working on passing a law named after Heather where no Indigenous person should be segregated and not attended to in the emergency room due to their heritage.