Vancouver mayor says he and his wife were harassed while shopping in Yaletown
The mayor of Vancouver says police are investigating harassment against him and his wife after the pair was reportedly approached in a store over the weekend.
Mayor Kennedy Stewart released a statement about the incident on Monday, saying they were shopping in Yaletown on Saturday.
"A white male in his late 40s or early 50s who was shopping in the store approached us and began to verbally harass me," Stewart said in his statement.
"He then moved to target Jeanette with his verbal abuse and to disparage people living without homes. His attitude became increasingly aggressive and he initiated physical contact with me."
Stewart said he asked the man to leave them alone "repeatedly."
"I told him three times that if he did not leave us alone and respect our personal space, I would call the police," the mayor's statement said.
"When he continued and challenged me to step outside, I called the police and described the incident."
Officers arrived and took statements. Stewart said police told him the man would be given a warning and "possible charges would be considered."
It's the second time this month a Metro Vancouver mayor has claimed they've experienced aggressive behaviour from the public. About two weeks ago, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said he was grocery shopping one weekend when he was reportedly "verbally assaulted" and hit by a car.
Stewart said there has been an "increase in this kind of aggressive behaviour directed at public officials."
"Where I fully respect people’s right to express different viewpoints, resorting to harassment or violence is unacceptable," he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.