Close X
Friday, November 15, 2024
ADVT 
National

Man Apologizes For Yelling Vulgar Phrase At Halifax Reporter Heather Butts During Broadcast

The Canadian Press, 26 Sep, 2018 12:53 PM
    HALIFAX — A female reporter says she's satisfied by a restorative justice process that saw a man apologize for yelling a vulgar phrase at her.
     
     
    CTV Atlantic's Heather Butts was broadcasting live from a Halifax pub on the World Junior Hockey Championship when Nash John Gracie made a crude gesture and uttered a sexually explicit comment on Dec. 29.
     
     
    Butts said she is satisfied that the 25-year-old Nash has taken responsibility for his actions through the restorative justice process and has agreed to community service.
     
     
    She says the incident is an example of the harassment many reporters have experienced over the years across North America.
     
     
    She says the process sends a message that these incidents will not be tolerated.
     
     
    A spokesman for CTV says the network is "pleased the person responsible ... is being held accountable through the restorative justice process," adding it's important journalists are able to do their jobs free of harassment.
     
     
    Gracie was charged with public mischief and causing a disturbance. When the case was referred to restorative justice, his lawyer said the charges would be withdrawn once he completed the process.
     
     
    The provincial website says restorative justice is "a response to crime that focuses on restoring the losses suffered by victims and communities."
     
     
    It says participants are given "an opportunity to talk about their concerns and to talk about the offence from their own perspective," and that "the parties develop an understanding of the impact of the offence and the steps needed to make amends."
     
     
    In February, a provincial court in Newfoundland and Labrador dismissed a public disturbance charge against 28-year-old Justin Penton following a similar incident. Judge Colin Flynn said the sexist slur was vulgar and offensive, but not a crime under the circumstances.
     
     
    Unifor, which represents the reporter in the Newfoundland incident, NTV's Heather Gillis, issued a statement saying it was concerned about the judge's decision, saying he "missed an opportunity to send a message that vulgar, verbal attacks on journalists are not acceptable.''

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Mission, BC, Man Charged With Cruelty After Doing Procedure On Python Without Sedation: SPCA

    Mission, BC, Man Charged With Cruelty After Doing Procedure On Python Without Sedation: SPCA
    Michael Hopcraft goes by the nickname "The Reptile Guy" and runs an organization that brings reptiles to schools and birthday parties for educational presentations.

    Mission, BC, Man Charged With Cruelty After Doing Procedure On Python Without Sedation: SPCA

    Public Invited To Watch Carving Of Totem Pole To Be Symbol Of Reconciliation

    Public Invited To Watch Carving Of Totem Pole To Be Symbol Of Reconciliation
    The Royal BC Museum in Victoria is teaming up with the Health Ministry to launch a pole carving program aimed at symbolizing reconciliation and healing.

    Public Invited To Watch Carving Of Totem Pole To Be Symbol Of Reconciliation

    Police Call For Witnesses To Canada Day Shooting Of Woman Driver In Pitt Meadows

    Police say a 36-year-old woman whose car collided with a power pole in Pitt Meadows, B.C., on Canada Day had been shot in a targeted hit.

    Police Call For Witnesses To Canada Day Shooting Of Woman Driver In Pitt Meadows

    3 Missing Hikers Found Dead In Dangerous Area Of Shannon Falls

    3 Missing Hikers Found Dead In Dangerous Area Of Shannon Falls
      SQUAMISH, B.C. — Search and rescue crews who were searching through the night for three hikers reported missing at Shannon Falls Provincial Park near Squamish, B.C. are now part of a recovery effort

    3 Missing Hikers Found Dead In Dangerous Area Of Shannon Falls

    Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner Asks $10 Million From Federal Government To Help Combat Gangs In City

    Mayor of Surrey says she will ask the federal government for $10 million in funding for anti-gang programs in British Columbia's fastest-growing city, where people are dealing with "emotional upheaval" after recent acts of gun violence.

    Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner Asks $10 Million From Federal Government To Help Combat Gangs In City

    Female Suspect In Custody After Four People Stabbed On Bus In Brampton

    Female Suspect In Custody After Four People Stabbed On Bus In Brampton
    Police say four people were sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed on a bus east of Toronto.

    Female Suspect In Custody After Four People Stabbed On Bus In Brampton