The sibling of a 33-year-old unmarried mother who was killed over ten years ago is urging for amendments to the Criminal Code following the temporary escorted leaves granted to the perpetrator convicted in the case. Kirstin Swanson contends that Schuyler Van Wissen should not receive temporary absences from the correctional facility where he is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in the death of her sister, Gina Swanson.
Expressing her dismay, Kirstin stated, “We were under the impression that justice would bring us 25 years of respite for my family and loved ones. However, the news of these escorted temporary absences feels like reopening old wounds.” She argued that the current Canadian law should be revised so that individuals convicted of first-degree murder are not eligible for such leaves until they are eligible to seek parole after 25 years.
Gina was discovered deceased on the floor of her residence in the Fort Garry area on May 14, 2011. Prosecutors alleged during the trial that Van Wissen had stabbed, strangled, and sexually assaulted Gina on that fateful morning. Following her failure to report to work, she was found by her father bound with a bag over her head.
Van Wissen, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in 2016 and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender registry for 20 years and subjected to a lifelong weapons ban. His appeal was dismissed in 2018.
Recently, Van Wissen was granted escorted temporary leaves from prison, according to Parole Board of Canada documents from August 14 obtained by CBC News. The escorted leaves allow Van Wissen to have three 3½-hour absences over the next year for personal development and rehabilitative purposes.
Kirstin expressed the overwhelming impact of this news on the family, including Gina’s now 21-year-old daughter. She criticized the decision by a panel of the Parole Board of Canada and wrote a letter to federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser expressing her concerns.
The parole panel acknowledged in its August 2025 decision that Van Wissen had committed a heinous and sexual crime and that the family strongly opposed any form of conditional release. The panel noted his progress in rehabilitation efforts but emphasized that more work was needed to understand the motive behind his violent actions.
Van Wissen was granted the absences to attend Muslim religious services at a mosque for professional development and spiritual reasons. He will be accompanied by the institutional chaplain and two armed officers during these absences.
Kirstin Swanson, in disagreement with the decision, questioned the possibility of rehabilitating someone who had committed such a violent act. Aiden Enns, the executive director of the John Howard Society, emphasized the dual purpose of the correctional system in protecting society and facilitating the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. Enns highlighted that the eligibility for escorted temporary absences signifies progress in rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.