Last Thursday night, the Motor Patrol of the Khartum Shriners held a 'gentlemen's dinner' fundraiser at the Garden City Inn. Roughly 400 men paid $75 each for the event, which included exotic dancers.
Witnesses at the event say the dinner turned lewd when a naked woman began performing lap dances. Lap dancing was declared illegal by the Supreme Court three years ago. They also say one woman was lying nude on a table and a man inserted a beer bottle in her. Later, men were throwing money on the table and performing oral sex on the same woman.
The organizer of the event said money raised would go to help Shriners charities. But the Shriners executive says it didn't sanction the event, even though the liquor permit for the event used the Shriners name.
There are four separate investigations into what happened at the dinner event
So far, the Liquor Control Commission, the Garden City Inn and the Shriners have launched investigations into what happened that night.
Now the Winnipeg police have entered the picture. "With what we've heard, and certainly what's been reported in the media, we have to look into it," says Inspector Gary Walker of the Winnipeg police. "There's significant interest in the community, and I think people want police to have a look at it."
Manitoba's Minister of Justice, Gord Mackintosh, says the public needs to come forward to help police. "The allegations are disappointing and disturbing to me, and I urge anyone who believes they witnessed a criminal offence, to report that to police as good citizens."
A spokesman from the Garden City Inn said today that as a result of the dinner, it will no longer allow strippers in its banquet room.
No one from the Winnipeg Shriners would agree to an on-camera interview Monday.
But the man in charge of all the Shriners in North America says he'll ask for an investigation.
"It's always bothered me that in a large organization where we have half a million members, the actions of a few individuals can tarnish the image of the majority who work so hard to do so much good," says Robert Turnipseed, the Imperial Potentate of the International Shriners, speaking to CBC News from Idaho.
The local chapter of the Shriners says it will not be accepting any of the money raised through the dinner.
