B.C. grocery store manager assault sign of growing danger in workplace

Published 11:30 am Thursday, October 1, 2026

A Victoria Save-On-Foods manager was recently seriously assaulted while at work.

In an open letter Monday (Sept. 28), president of Pattison Food Group Jamie Nelson said the manager “lost consciousness, sustained a concussion, and suffered significant injuries that will likely require surgical treatment.”

The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) said officers responded to a report of a theft and an assault against an employee at the Save-on-Foods in the 1000-block of Pandora Avenue just after 9 a.m. on Sept. 19.

Police confirmed the employee was transported to hospital by BC Emergency Health Services paramedics with serious injuries.

Officers located and arrested a suspect nearby, who was later released with conditions, and the investigation remains ongoing.

“This was a serious incident involving a person who was simply doing their job, and we recognize the impact incidents of violence such as this have on employees, businesses and the broader community,” said VicPD.

Nelson’s letter says the Victoria incident is not an isolated one, and is an example of the rise in aggressive and violent behaviours retail workers face in stores across Canada.

A deliberate fire set inside a Nesters Market store in Vancouver earlier this year, which caused more than $500,000 in damage and put lives at risk, is another example Nelson gives of the dangers workers experience.

“When a store manager is left unconscious following a violent assault and an occupied grocery store is deliberately set on fire, we should view those incidents as warning signs,” he writes. “We cannot wait until someone loses their life before deciding that enough is enough.”

Team members have reported being threatened, assaulted, spit on, and confronted by individuals carrying weapons.

“We have seen bear spray attacks, knife incidents, violent altercations with homemade weapons, and repeated threats directed at frontline workers simply trying to do their jobs,” said Nelson.

According to Nelson, more than half of reported threats within the Pattison Food Group’s businesses are directed at employees who do not work in security roles.

While the group has “invested significantly” in security measures, Nelson says they continue to see “the same repeat offenders” targeting retailers despite previous arrests.

Nelson’s letter says frontline workers should not be expected to accept violence as part of their job.

“To be clear, we recognize this issue is complex,” he writes. “We also recognize the challenges associated with addiction, mental illness, homelessness and repeat offending.

“We support prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts, and we know there are no simple solutions. However, both things can be true at once: we can support vulnerable individuals while also protecting frontline workers. We can believe in rehabilitation while also expecting accountability.”

Nelson says for years, the group has shared its concerns with governments, law enforcement agencies and community partners.

“We remain committed to being part of the solution, yet despite those efforts, the incidents continue to become more serious,” he said.

VicPD said it works closely with Save-On-Foods, the Pattison Food Group, Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto, and senior city staff regarding public safety concerns, “particularly in and around the Pandora Avenue location.”

“We share their view that frontline employees should be able to come to work and serve their community without violence being accepted as part of the job,” said VicPD.

“These are complex public safety challenges, but complexity does not diminish the importance of protecting employees, customers and the surrounding community. VicPD will continue working closely with Save-On-Foods, the City of Victoria and our other partners to improve safety in this area.”