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Hope councillor apologizes for heated words over Station House

Heather Stewin said she became offended by words used in a presentation
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District of Hope Councillor Heather Stewin. (District of Hope photo)

A Hope councillor has apologized for her behaviour in a public meeting.

“I lost my temper,” Heather Stewin said, following a presentation by Christian and Erica Ward on Sept. 13.

The Wards were speaking as a delegation about concerns they had about council procedures. In that meeting, council was considering limiting delegations to just one presentation on a particular topic.

The Wards have made several presentations to council now over their desired preservation of the Hope Station House.

In question period of that meeting, Christian Ward directed a question directly to Stewin, and she said “No, I’m done. I’m done. Do you understand?”

Ward followed that meeting up with a request to the CAO to ask Stewin to apologize.

“I became offended by the comments that were made during the presentation,” she said. “Then during council deliberations I spoke rather strongly and to make matters worse I was asked a direct question and I lost my temper.

“It was unacceptable and unprofessional and a perfect example of what not to do as a member of council.”

“I sincerely apologize to Christian and Erica,” she said, as well as to District of Hope staff and her fellow councillors.

READ MORE: Council removes heritage status of Hope Station House

Hope for Station House?

Mayor Peter Robb has indicated there may be hope for the Hope Station House yet.

At Monday’s meeting, he said they are continuing “to work with the province for a viable solution for the Station House.”

He noted there are two groups who want the historic railway building moved to Water Street, and one group who is interested in moving it out to a site in Yale.

“We will keep working with them to see what we can do,” he said.


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Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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