Winnipeg middle-school students find body during community cleanup exercise

A group of middle-school students in Winnipeg came across a dead body in a field during a class exercise on Friday.

Pembina Trails School Divisionsuperintendent Ted Fransen saidstudentsinvolved in a community cleanup day at cole South Pointe School were doing service education when they came across the body in a field across from the school.

Administration then sent a letter out to the school community to notify parents of what occurred, he said.

"In this case, the school administration clearly and correctly believe that the entire school community should become aware of it," Fransensaid.

"It just happened, and soI've not been informed of how kids are doing. I can only imagine that those who werethe closest to the situation would be quite traumatized by it."

Fransen said police are investigating but he has no knowledge of what's been discovered so far.

Const. Claude Chancy with the public information office says an autopsy will be conducted in the coming days to determine the identityand the cause of the death.

Chancy said the body was that of an adult, but can't confirm their race or sex at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

cole South Pointe School guidance counsellors, resource teachers and division psychologists will be on hand first thing Monday to support students troubled by the finding, said Fransen.

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