Calls for Defibrillators in Restaurants After Winnipeg Man’s Death

A heartbreaking incident at a Winnipeg McDonald’s has sparked renewed calls for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed in restaurants across Manitoba. The event unfolded when 90-year-old Charles Bryant Hodge collapsed inside the Southdale McDonald’s. Despite quick action from bystanders, including CPR performed by Dave Pineau’s wife, Hodge tragically did not survive.

Dave Pineau and his family were at the restaurant celebrating their son’s fourth birthday when the emergency occurred. Pineau’s wife immediately stepped in, performing CPR for nearly 10 minutes until paramedics arrived. However, the restaurant did not have an AED — a device proven to significantly increase survival during sudden cardiac arrest.

The full news story can be found in the original CBC report here:
👉 Man’s death prompts calls for defibrillators in restaurants

Man giving CPR while woman prepares an AED.
CPR with AED use during emergency response training.

A Family’s Push for Change

Following the incident, Pineau launched a social media campaign urging McDonald’s and other restaurants to install AEDs at their locations. What began as a moment of instinctive response has now become a mission to prevent future losses.

“Since we’ve reflected a little bit, we certainly think that it would have been great to have one there,” Pineau said.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation notes that using an AED alongside CPR can improve survival rates by more than 75% compared to CPR alone. These devices are designed to guide even untrained bystanders through each step — making early defibrillation one of the most important factors during a cardiac emergency.

Remembering Charles Bryant Hodge

Hodge’s granddaughter, Shawna Hodge, shared that AEDs should be available in all public spaces — not just high-traffic areas required by law.

“This could have happened to anybody, at any time, at any place… no other family should have to go through what we did.”

She also expressed gratitude for those who stepped in to help:

“It’s so nice to know that there’s so many nice people out there just willing to help.”

Manitoba’s Public Access Defibrillator Laws

Manitoba was the first Canadian province to mandate AEDs in many public areas under the Defibrillator Public Access Act, requiring them in locations such as:

  • Gyms and arenas

  • Community centres

  • Golf courses

  • Schools

  • Airports

  • Major shopping malls

  • Casinos

  • Sporting venues

  • Museums and cultural centres

  • Courthouses

  • The Winnipeg Convention Centre

  • The Manitoba Legislative Building

Over 2,300 AEDs are currently registered across the province, and the number continues to grow. Although restaurants are not included in the legislation, many businesses voluntarily install AEDs due to increased awareness and public pressure.

McDonald’s Response

McDonald’s Canada stated that a first-aid–certified shift manager is required to be on duty at each location. However, regarding AED installation, the company referred inquiries to Manitoba Health.

This tragic incident has reignited public calls to expand AED access to everyday locations like restaurants — places where cardiac emergencies can happen without warning.

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