Killing of security guard at UBCO has Kelowna councillor calling for more mental health supports

The young woman who died from the injuries she received during an attack at the UBC Okanagan campus while working as a security guard this past weekend speaks to the need for mental health support in the community, according to a Kelowna city councillor.

Harmandeep Kaur, 24, died in hospital following an assault by a man working at the University Centre building on campus on Feb. 26. He was arrested under the Mental Health Act and remains in hospital. He may be facing murder charges.

“This really speaks to the need for our community to get the supports they need for mental health,” Kelowna city councillor Mohini Singh said today, March 1.

Singh is advocating for regular citizens to have more access to mental health services, and for police to be better equipped to deal with people experiencing mental breakdowns.

READ MORE: RCMP settles out of court with UBCO student following violent wellness check

It was “devastating” for her to learn that the community lost “a beautiful 24-year-old woman who was just trying to do her job.”

Singh wondered why Kaur was expected to work security in the middle of the night without a partner.

Kaur attended the Okanagan Sikh Temple while she was in Kelowna.

Temple president Amarjit Singh Lalli said if anyone in Kaur’s circle of friends or family need counselling, he invites them to reach out and he will make sure they are taken care of. You can contact the temple by phone at 250-765-7477 or by email at okanagansikhtemple@outlook.com.

While police have said the suspect may be facing murder charges, none have been laid yet, and there are no updates on the investigation, Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Tammy Lobb said in an email today.

— This story was updated at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 with comment from RCMP.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.