Sexual assault survivor confronts 91大黄鸭 mayor at council meeting

A sexual assault survivor confronted 91大黄鸭 Mayor Colin Basran about his confidence in the local RCMP during a city council meeting on Monday night.

Heather Friesen, who was allegedly raped when she was 15 years old, has been extremely vocal about her disdain for the RCMP and the mayor after Statistics Canada revealed the city鈥檚 police force deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as 鈥渦nfounded鈥� in 2018.

鈥淭he survivors in this community who are too afraid to report because of the reputation of the RCMP in this community are not just anyone,鈥� Friesen yelled at the mayor and councillors after the meeting ended.

鈥淚 had the courage to stand in front of your office and call you out by name. And, when you apologize, all you say is anyone.鈥�

The mayor tried to offer Friesen a meeting, saying he鈥檇 be glad to meet in his office, however the offer was drowned out by Friesen who continued to yell.

鈥淵ou know where I live, you know who I am,鈥� she said while making her way out of the room.

鈥淗ave the courage to come to me. I shouldn鈥檛 have to beg you.鈥�

Last week the mayor issued an apology to 鈥渁nyone offended or hurt鈥� by his initial reaction to the statistics.

鈥淭he number of local sex assault complaints deemed to be unfounded is deeply concerning and I know the local detachment is taking this matter seriously,鈥� wrote Basran in a Nov. 15 statement.

鈥淚n retrospect, I should have waited for the results of an investigation into the matter before expressing my opinion.鈥�

Basran said that while the RCMP operates independently, it is the city鈥檚 responsibility to ensure matters concerning citizens are being addressed.

He has also directed staff to stay in close contact with the RCMP on the issue until a review is completed.

鈥淚 support what the 91大黄鸭 RCMP has done in response to this new information from Statistics Canada 鈥� starting with an internal review and a subsequent request to have the RCMP鈥檚 Sexual Assault Review Team at national headquarters review the 2018 and 2019 files. That review will determine RCMP next steps,鈥� wrote Basran.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my understanding that the RCMP will report out once the investigation is complete and I鈥檒l wait until that happens before commenting further.鈥�

For Friesen, the mayor鈥檚 apology 鈥� while a start 鈥� was not enough.

鈥淎pologies are not sincere when you apologize for an offence given and you don鈥檛 recognize why they are offensive,鈥� Friesen said in an interview last Friday.

鈥淎gain, Mayor Colin Basran鈥檚 privilege is keeping him from recognizing why his comments are so offensive to survivors of sexual assault.鈥�

She said she hoped he would be willing to meet with survivors of sexual assualt and discuss the larger issues at hand.

鈥淩ape culture is a driving force in 91大黄鸭 by the RCMP, the community at large, and by him. We need to start combatting it,鈥� said Friesen.

鈥淗e needs to recognize how he contributed to it and how he can help stop it.鈥�

Friesen also made a plea to other sexual assault survivors to come forward.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 in the last two years,鈥� she said.

鈥淚f you have been mistreated by the RCMP; if you are part of the 40 per cent 鈥� who cares if it was 10 years ago? Start speaking out. Demand better for the next woman. I can鈥檛 do this alone.鈥�

Friesen also left a flyer at the council meeting for an upcoming protest against the 91大黄鸭 RCMP.

The protest will be held in front of the RCMP deatchment on Richter Street on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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