Police hunt for trans woman over arson attack on Canada gender clinic
Police think a trans woman was responsible for an arson attack at Canada’s primary gender clinic.
The only specialist clinic in Canada providing gender services for trans people was targeted by an arsonist earlier this month.
Montreal’s Centre Metropolitain De Chirurgie houses the only surgeon in Canada who performs gender confirmation surgery, Dr Pierre Brassard.
The clinic was put out of action when a person “burst into” the clinic and attempted to set a fire.
Though the fire was eventually put out, the clinic sustained more than $700,000 damage due to smoke, as well as water damage to equipment caused by the sprinkler system.
Police are now hunting 42-year-old trans woman Jayne Ellen Heideck in connection with the fire.
The Kelowna woman, who cannot currently be located, is allegedly wanted on charges including arson with a disregard for human life, breaking and entering and arson by negligence.
The Montreal Journal suggests that Heideck had undergone treatment at the clinic previously, but was upset with staff.
All staff members and patients in the building at the time were all unharmed, but damages were estimated at about $700,000.
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau recently announced a raft of new trans rights protections.
The new bill will bolster anti-discrimination protections on the grounds of gender identity, and will also protect trans people under hate speech laws.
Trudeau said: “Even today, despite all the obstacles we have overcome, the battles we have won, and the victories we have celebrated, we are still witnesses, and in some cases, victims of injustices.
“We must continue to demand true equality.
“We must carry on the legacy of those who fought for justice by being bold and ambitious in our actions, and we must work diligently to close the gap between our principles and our reality.”
