Inside
u Tachie Road work P. 8 u First Nations fight permits P. 8
u RCMP report P. 2 u Cullen visits Fort P. 5
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, August 7, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS Court report For files appearing before the Fort St. James Provincial Court on July 23, 2013. Herbert A. Felix was given a conditional discharge and 12 months probation with 12 months conditions for fraud under $5,000. Erik L. Makonin was sentenced to 25 days in jail for failure to comply with a probation order and 25 days in jail for failure to comply with a condition of undertaking. Dean R. Sam was fined $400 and charged a victim surcharge of $60 for failure to comply with a probation order and also one day in jail and charged another victim surcharge of $50 for a second count of failure to comply with a probation order.
PST webinars Free webinars are being made available to help businesses return to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST). Businesses that want to learn more about the Provincial Sales Tax can join interactive webinars offered by the provincial government in August. The interactive webinar will cover the general principles of the PST and the new eTaxBC online business registration service. Registration and information is available at: www.gov. bc.ca/pstoutreach
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Harassment investigation undertaken
VOL. 36 NO. 23 $1.30 inc. GST
White sails over whitecaps
Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier An independent investigator is looking into the allegations of sexual harassment filed against Fire Chief Rob Bennett. Paul McKivett of James R. Craven and Associates Ltd. was hired by the District of Fort St. James to take on the investigation. Bennett has been accused of incidents of sexual harassment against two female firefighters on the Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department. Kirstin Rudolph is one of the firefighters who brought forward a complaint, hers resulting from an incident after fire practice at the fire hall on July 18. Since the complaints became public, the District of Fort St. James met with firefighters and asked for no one to speak publicly about the allegations. Rudolph said McKivet’s experience was apparent during his interview with her. “He really chose his questions well to really get back into the heart of the matter,” said Rudolph. She said so far three women have provided information but she is hoping other women who had concerns regarding Bennett’s behaviour will come forward. “If they do not wish to be identified, we can keep their identities secret, but we need to hear from them,” she said. While the investigation helps to reassure her something will be done, Rudolph was also questioning the District’s handling of previous concerns regarding Bennett’s behaviour. A fellow firefighter came forward in January and a letter was submitted in April detailing concerns regarding alleged drinking and unprofessional behaviour. “The problem now is optics,” she said. Rudolph said firefighters at the hall did not see any results of bringing forward their concerns, even though something may have been done to try and address the problems. “There’s a silence on the part of the District.” The District of Fort St. James’ policy on harassment states: “The council will treat all incidents of harassment seriously. We undertake to act upon all complaints and to ensure that they are resolved quickly, confidentially, and fairly. We will discipline anyone who has harassed a person or group of people or who retaliates in any way against anyone who has complained of harassment, given evidence in harassment investigations, or been found guilty of harassment. … The council of the District of Fort St. James will not tolerate harassment.” The investigation was expected to be completed last week and a report with recommendations submitted on or before the end of this week to the District. “I’m really curious to see what the recommendations will be,” said Rudolph. She also said the atmosphere at the fire hall is under some strain as everyone adjusts to “the new norm” but she believes the investigation will help the dust to settle eventually. “Hopefully the department will be better,” she said. Mayor Rob MacDougall declined comment as did the District of Fort St. James Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Crook. Fire Chief Rob Bennett did not respond to messages prior to press time.
Henner Grimm with John Rutchmann on Rutchmann’s boat Silverwind were out sailing during some stormy weather on Stuart Lake. The pair are members of the Stuart Lake Sailing Club. Joanne Malo photo
A single vehicle rollover occurred on Highway 27 near Dog Creek on July 31. The morning accident was attended by fire rescue, ambulance and the RCMP.
Photo courtesy of the RCMP
Single vehicle accident on Hwy 27 Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier RCMP, ambulance and firefighters all responded to an accident on Highway 27 near Dog Creek on July 31. At 8:40 a.m., RCMP received the call and attended the accident scene about one kilometre south of the Dog Creek Forest Service Road. A Ford Escape travelling northbound had
rolled over, crushing the vehicle’s roof and then landed back on its wheels in the southbound lane. The female driver was the lone occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident. No serious injuries appeared to result from the incident, however the vehicle was believed to be a write-off. Driver inattention appeared to be the cause of the rollover and no charges were recommended in the case.