Coun. Hugh Pettigrew faces a single depend of sexual assault associated to an alleged offence on Dec. 23 final 12 months.
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A Banff city councillor is going through calls to resign after a sexual assault cost in opposition to him got here to mild final week.
Coun. Hugh Pettigrew, a first-term councillor elected in 2021, faces a single depend of sexual assault associated to an alleged offence on Dec. 23 final 12 months. He was charged in late January, however information of the allegation didn’t unfold till final week.
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Pettigrew has maintained his innocence, telling Banff media the cost has brought about a “tough time” for him and his household. Neither he nor his lawyer, the Calgary-based Tonii Roulston, responded to Postmedia’s request for touch upon Thursday.
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In a Tuesday letter, dozens of Banff group leaders urged the councillor to step down instantly in mild of the accusation. Amongst those that signed the letter had been Karen Sorenson, an Alberta senator and the city’s former mayor, and Ebony Rempel, the CEO of the native YWCA.
The letter describes Pettigrew as having publicly championed himself as an ally to victims of sexual violence and provides that his continued service as a councillor “may show distressing to a good portion of the voters.”
“In mild of the intense allegations in opposition to you, we implore you to show the very best stage of advocacy by stepping apart whereas the justice system fulfills its due course,” reads the letter. “We implore you to show the respect that our progressive group deserves by eradicating your self from a place of energy that would doubtlessly tarnish the repute of our beloved group and the encompassing nationwide park.”
Rempel informed Postmedia roughly 80 individuals signed the letter. She stated if Pettigrew decides to remain on, the cost and court docket proceedings may very well be a distraction from vital work being finished by city council.
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“We actually really feel like this information and the costs which have been laid are distracting from the power for the city to have the ability to transfer ahead and have these conversations,” she stated.
Within the meantime, Pettigrew has continued to fulfil his council duties. In accordance with the Municipal Authorities Act, being charged with against the law doesn’t disqualify somebody from holding public workplace.
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno stated the city council will meet to debate obtainable recourse underneath the city’s code of conduct bylaw “if warranted.” However she famous that the city will “respect the judicial system and its truthful and authoritative course of to achieve a judgment.”
“Any allegation of sexual assault or misconduct is a matter that have to be taken very severely,” stated DiManno in a March 14 assertion in town’s web site. “We’re extraordinarily involved in regards to the allegations which have resulted in legal prices.”
Rempel encourages anybody in the neighborhood affected by the information or impacted by sexual violence to contact the YWCA.
“The Y is a secure place for folk to return and attain out for assist,” she stated. “The statistics across the percentages of individuals coming ahead are actually low. We would like individuals to know that we hear you, we stand with you, we’re right here for you, and we consider you.”
Pettigrew is scheduled to be again in court docket subsequent month.
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
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