All parties mum after harassment allegations
City councillor who advocated for action missed key meeting
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, June 26, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Little information is being released from the city the week after allegations of sexual harassment were leveled against one of its employees by a former employee on social media.
On June 15, Lauren Mercredi posted on Facebook allegations that a male employee of the city-run Ruth Inch Memorial Pool sexually harassed her and that the city did not adequately deal with it when she reported it in January. She later quit her lifeguard position. Coun. Bob Brooks commented on the Facebook post, saying he found the allegations disgusting and committed to look into the matter.
However, he missed the meeting between staff and councillors held last week because of a meeting related to his job with the GNWT.
He said he followed up with councillors who were present and deputy mayor Linda Bussey, who chaired the meeting in the mayor's absence.
"I'm leaving it up to her," Brooks said.
He again referred to Bussey's statement from last week, which said the city won't comment on personnel matters.
RCMP have confirmed an investigation is ongoing into vandalism of vehicles and a Range Lake area home that Mercredi said followed a recent visit to the pool where the male allegedly verbally harassed her.
Late yesterday afternoon another media source reported a youth has been charged with mischief and criminal harassment in relation to the vandalism, but Yellowknifer couldn't confirm that by press time.
