A television reporter has filed a complaint with the RCMP after a man kissed her on the cheek while she was reporting live from the Squamish Music Festival.
CBC reporter Megan Batchelor was covering the four-day music festival in Squamish on Friday evening when the incident happened.
During a live hit for the network's 6 p.m. newscast the man ran up to Batchelor from behind, kissed her on the cheek and took a selfie with her before running away.
The CBC quoted Batchelor as saying she was "rattled" by the encounter and felt like the unidentified man was purposely trying to interfere with her ability to do her job.
The broadcaster is reporting that Batchelor has made a complaint to the Squamish RCMP and the network asked anyone who can identify the man to contact the police.
CTV Vancouver reporter Julie Nolin was fondled live on-air during the CTV News live 5 p.m. broadcast on the same day. As she was reporting from Squamish Fest near Batchelor, one girl hugged Nolin and another grabbed her buttocks.
“I think it's Megan's right to go to RCMP. I've had these incidents happen many times over my career,” Nolin said. “I don't agree with the behaviour, though my view is that as a reporter, you try to make the best of it. I don't know if 'girls on girl' makes it different, but I wasn't mad.”
In an emailed statement to the Canadian Press on Sunday, the CBC said that this incident is another example of a disturbing trend and the network will do everything it can to ensure its journalists are safe when reporting from the field.
With files from The Canadian Press
