VANCOUVER -- Nearly two weeks after the cables on the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, B.C., were cut for a second time, the company announced it's offering a massive reward for information in the investigation.
The company is offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the location, arrest and conviction of those responsible for cutting the gondola cables this year and in 2019.
"It's something we can do. And with the full commitment of the owners and the weight and support of our community behind us, it's something we want to do now," gondola general manager Kirby Brown said Friday.
Brown and Sgt. Sascha Banks from Squamish RCMP gave the update in a news conference Friday afternoon at the base platform in the gondola parking lot.
"I think it's no secret that obviously somebody hasn't been arrested for the gondola incident from last year," Banks said.
"This is just another tool, and it shows how serious the Sea to Sky Gondola team is about trying to have who did this brought to justice."
On Sept. 14, Mounties say they were contacted by the attraction's security team around 4 a.m., and were on scene at the gondola nine minutes later.
No one was injured in the incident, and the gondola has been closed until further notice.
The cables at the popular attraction were previously cut in August 2019. Mounties have said their investigation into that incident is also ongoing and are looking into whether the two incidents are connected.
The attraction re-opened in February, and gondola management said enhanced security measures such as cameras, sensors and a loud alarm, had been installed. Brown described it as the most advanced security system that their industry had ever seen, but acknowledged that a suspect has still not been apprehended.
“We’re standing here today because we did not catch this person, either before, during or immediately after the act. So naturally we’re back at the drawing board," he said.
Brown had said last week he was confident the security enhancements would help the investigation progress faster than the last time. ​
"This individual, on both occasions, came very close to hurting people. It hurt our community. It certainly hurt our business," Brown said.
"This is an individual who is a criminal who needs to be caught and brought to justice. If you love this person, if you care about this person, you need to take your part to help stop them now."
Banks says officers know there is "at least one person" involved but will not be discussing the exact number of people at this point.
Banks added police do have surveillance footage, but at this time, there are no plans to release it to the public.
"Right now, we're combing through that footage. We're working with additional partners on that footage, she said.
"At this time, we're not going to be releasing that. If that point in time does come down the line, we'll make sure that everybody knows," she said.
Squamish RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact the police gondola information line at 604-892-6122 or gondola.info@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
The investigation is at a "very, very critical" stage, Banks added.
Police are also asking for anyone with video along the Sea to Sky Highway near the gondola from Sept. 13 around 8 p.m. to Sept. 14 to contact them.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Alyse Kotyk
