Close X
Monday, November 11, 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 When the case was referred to restorative justice, his lawyer said the charges would be withdrawn once he completed the process.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

    50-Yr-Old Driver Charged After Crashing Stolen Truck On Main Street, 4 Taken To Hospital

    50-Yr-Old Driver Charged After Crashing Stolen Truck On Main Street, 4 Taken To Hospital
    Andrew Dollman, 50, allegedly crashed a stolen pickup into a Ford Focus and two two parked cars.

    50-Yr-Old Driver Charged After Crashing Stolen Truck On Main Street, 4 Taken To Hospital

    Fatal Overdose Call Leads To Discovery Of Suspected Drug Lab In East Vancouver

    Fatal Overdose Call Leads To Discovery Of Suspected Drug Lab In East Vancouver
    Just before 2 a.m. Saturday, Vancouver Police were called to investigate a sudden death, due to an apparent drug overdose, in an apartment on Rhodes Street near East 41st Avenue. 

    Fatal Overdose Call Leads To Discovery Of Suspected Drug Lab In East Vancouver

    Robbery Suspect Arrested At Abbotsford Home

    Robbery Suspect Arrested At Abbotsford Home
    A 36-year-old man was taken into custody in Abbotsford, B.C. following reports of a robbery Saturday morning.

    Robbery Suspect Arrested At Abbotsford Home

    Police Say Speed A Factor In Fatal Crash Involving Co-Op Car In Vancouver

    Police Say Speed A Factor In Fatal Crash Involving Co-Op Car In Vancouver
    A 30-year-old Burnaby man died and his 32-year-old male passenger from Langley was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the crash of their co-op vehicle early Friday morning.

    Police Say Speed A Factor In Fatal Crash Involving Co-Op Car In Vancouver

    Arrests In Williams Lake Following Seizure Of Weapons, Drugs Including Fentanyl

     RCMP say six people have been arrested following the seizure of drugs, firearms and a large amount of cash at a home in Williams Lake, B.C.

    Arrests In Williams Lake Following Seizure Of Weapons, Drugs Including Fentanyl

    'I Came To The Realization That I Was A Missing Person:' Man Who Disappeared On Ski Trip

    'I Came To The Realization That I Was A Missing Person:' Man Who Disappeared On Ski Trip
    His annual ski trip to Lake Placid, N.Y., with colleagues from Toronto Fire Services was drawing to a close when he realized he'd forgotten to bring a camera to the lodge where he was unwinding with friends about half-way up Whiteface Mountain.

    'I Came To The Realization That I Was A Missing Person:' Man Who Disappeared On Ski Trip