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WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2015
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Sentencing handed down Robert Bennett gets nine months in jail and two years probation for sexual assaults MICHELE TAYLOR Caledonia Courier
Former Fort St. James fire chief Robert Bennett, 51, has been sentenced to nine months in jail and two years of probation on three counts of sexual assault. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Glen Parrett handed down the sentence on April 23, in Prince George after Bennett was found guilty on all three counts of sexual assault against three female volunteer firefighters earlier this year. Bennett was also assessed a victim surcharge of $200 and was given a mandatory 10-year prohibition from possessing firearms. Bennett was also ordered to provide a DNA sample. Kirstin Rudolph, one of the first members to come forward against Bennett, was in Prince George Supreme Court for the sentencing. “We’re happy that he’s going to jail,” she said. “The judge did a good job in sending the message that this was a criminal action and punishing him accordingly.” The sexual assault case has been emotional for the community and put strains on relationships Rudolph said. “It really has divided the town,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s the way it’s been.” Of the three volunteers that came forward Michele Taylor photo from the department Kirstin Rudolph, was only one remains active one of three fire de- as a volunteer firefighter. partment members “I retired in Novemthat came forward ber, and Lisa has just against former fire got her letter,” she said. chief Robert Bennett. “In the fire department Bennett was found you need to trust people guilty on all three you work with and I just ounts of sexual as- didn’t feel I could trust sault and sentenced, them.” April 23. There is a civil lawsuit that is being continued by the three members against the District of Fort St. James. “Right now it’s just a waiting game,” Rudolph said of the pending civil case. Bennett’s family did not respond to requests for comment on the sentencing prior to going to press.
Michele Taylor photos
Jaime Woods, left, and Greg Pigeon with Caliber Sport Systems, work on the multi-purpose racquetball and squash court. Woods said the court will have a moving wall that will transform the area to play either sport.
Community Centre grows closer to completion Work continues on the district’s multi-function complex MICHELE TAYLOR Caledonia Courier
The site of the future community centre has been busy with activity and this past week contractors were putting finishing touches on many areas of the multi-function building. The district of Fort St. James has been without a community centre and the 5,000 square-foot building will offer a space for events such as film screenings, replacing the cinema that used to be housed in the building previously. The facility will also be used to host banquets, cultural events and conferences and will service the entire municipality including the communities of Nak’azdli, Tl’azt’en, Yekooche and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako. Mike McMillan, foreman with IQ Builders, said there have been a few challenges during the construction phase, but the centre is coming along and work is being completed on the theatre, community hall and racquetball and squash
courts. “We’ve got the guys in doing the courts, and electricians and plumbers in here right now,” McMillan said. Kevin Cook, Chief Administrative Officer for the district, said although the completion date of the close to $2-million project has been pushed forward a number of times the centre is close to being completed. “The initial date was supposed to be the end of October,” he said. “They are getting closer, the real hold-up was the power connection. I anticipate it should be really soon.” Cook said there are a number of options in town for larger and smaller meeting places or conference facilities and the new centre will fill a void in the intermediary requirements of the community. “The conference centre aspect is, I think, one of the big ones,” he said. “It’s an intermediate facility … seats about 275, and will fill the gap in our services that are available locally.” The community centre which received a $250,000
The Fort St. James community centre is mid-way through completion of the theatre area which will provide live and cinema entertainment to enthusiasts. grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust also received funding from the District of Fort St. James, a couple of provincial grant programs and a local family and will be a benefit to a number of user groups Cook said. He says the facility will offer space for the
Seniors Centre and the Legion after its loss of their building this year. “The Seniors Citizens Association, they want to play carpet bowling in there,” Cook said. “They have been doing it in their little building, but it’s kind of tight.”