The mayor of Whitby has announced plans to review security protocols at the council chambers following an incident that occurred after a meeting on Monday night, which is currently under investigation by Durham police.
Mayor Elizabeth Roy revealed that a man behaved inappropriately towards a female councilor at Whitby Town Hall after the council session concluded at 11 p.m. The man’s aggressive approach restricted the councilor’s movement, prompting concerns for safety.
Addressing the issue, Mayor Roy emphasized the importance of ensuring a safe environment for public service, condemning any behavior that aims to silence or discourage women from engaging in civic activities.
In response to the incident, Mayor Roy mentioned that several female councilors have expressed the need for better support, prompting a comprehensive review of security measures within the council chambers.
Emphasizing the necessity of council chambers being a secure space, Mayor Roy stressed the importance of continuously evaluating and enhancing existing security measures to foster a sense of safety for everyone.
The man involved was identified as David Menzies, an employee of the right-wing media outlet Rebel News, and the councilor in question was confirmed to be Victoria Bozinkovski, representing East Ward (4).
Bozinkovski declined to provide further details via interview due to the ongoing police investigation but conveyed that the interaction was perceived as threatening, harassment, and invasive.
Contrary to Bozinkovski’s account, Menzies refuted the allegations of harassment in a video statement released by Rebel News on social media.
According to Durham police spokesperson Kristie Jones, officers responded to a disturbance call at Whitby Town Hall around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, where they engaged with the man involved but did not make any arrests.
Mayor reports some councilors were escorted out by security
Following the incident, certain councilors were escorted out of the town hall premises by security personnel, Mayor Roy confirmed.
Councilor Maleeha Shahid, who did not witness the altercation, noted the distress of her colleague post the incident and mentioned that Rebel News personnel were present in the town hall parking lot until late that night.
Expressing her concern, Shahid revealed that she only felt safe leaving the council chambers once the police arrived and requested security support to ensure her safety to her car.
Mayor Roy acknowledged the presence of several media outlets during the meeting and assured that security was monitoring all individuals in the building, intervening only after the incident.
Highlighting the importance of respecting personal space, Mayor Roy underscored the proactive measures taken by the security team, including contacting the police for assistance.
No plans to transition Whitby meetings to online format: Mayor
While addressing security concerns, Whitby’s mayor emphasized the city council’s commitment to maintaining in-person council meetings despite recent events.
The mayor clarified that Monday’s incident was deemed as targeted and unrelated to the situation in Pickering, where meetings were shifted online due to security threats.
Regional Coun. Rhonda Mulcahy highlighted the importance of providing a safe work environment for women, especially in a female-majority council like Whitby’s.
Expressing their concerns, Shahid and Mulcahy emphasized the need to prevent incidents like the one on Monday from deterring women from pursuing roles in municipal governance in the future.