Charge laid after hate-motivated assault

One man has been charged after a stabbing that occurred in the southwest community of Woodlands last month.

On Friday, May 22, 2026, at around 9:30 p.m., police responded to reports of a stabbing outside of a residence in the 1800 block of Woodview Drive S.W. It is believed that the victim was outside of his residence when approached by a neighbour who had been making escalating racial remarks to him over the course of several weeks. The neighbour once again said racial slurs to the man before stabbing him twice in the face. The victim returned to his residence and called the police.

The victim, a man in his 40s, was transported to hospital with minor injuries. He has since recovered.

Due to the elements of the altercation, our Hate Crime Prevention Team was engaged. After an investigation into the assault, hate motivation has been deemed to have been a factor in the assault.

As a result, Emilio Francesco PEDICINO, 41, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of assault with a weapon.

He will next appear in court on Friday, July 3, 2026.

“Hate‑motivated violence has no place in our city. No one should be targeted or made to feel unsafe because of who they are. We are committed to thoroughly investigating these incidents and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable,” says Sergeant Chelsea Francois of the Calgary Police Service Hate Crime Prevention Team. “We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed hate‑motivated behaviour to report it. Your information helps us protect our communities and prevent further harm.”

Hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes, like assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim.

A hate motivation does not result in any additional charges, but any evidence of it is considered by the courts after a person is found guilty of the connected crime. If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence.

Courtesy: Prime Minister of Canada