Wasaga Beach fire chief retires in wake of alleged cover-up
One month after an exclusive CTV News report into allegations of a coverup in the Town of Wasaga Beach following an investigation of an inappropriate sexual relationship between the town's fire chief and a female employee, Fire Chief Mike McWilliam announced he is retiring.
The long-time fire chief cited personal and family reasons for his retirement.
In late July, the female employee's mother told CTV News that after leaving the town's employ in 2020, her daughter attempted to take her life at least twice.
The former employee claims the fire chief mistreated and harassed her after their consensual extra-marital relationship ended.
CTV News obtained confidential town documents outlining the woman's concerns before coming forward to the human resources (HR) department with her complaint, fearing reprisal and backlash based on the close working relationship of the town's mayor, CAO and fire chief.
The document revealed the fire chief asked his female staffer to share intimate pornographic images and videos; while he did the same, including pictures of his genitals.
The memo states the CAO, George Vadeboncoeur, ordered a second legal opinion following an initial HR lawyer's investigation.
The document disclosed a second lawyer determined the initial lawyer's recommendations were "excessive," and the fire chief ultimately kept his job.
McWilliam was suspended with pay during the lengthy investigation.
The woman's mother told CTV News her daughter was stressed, lost her hair and couldn't function in her job. She took medication to cope.
Unable to work under McWilliam, the woman left the town after accepting a financial package but not before signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Following a workplace health and safety complaint over alleged harassment, the Ministry of Labour was called to investigate the Town of Wasaga Beach, issuing six orders last month.
The ministry found the town's workplace violence and harassment policy hasn't been reviewed in nine years.
A statement issued on Friday from CAO Vadeboncoeur regarding McWilliam's retirement reads in part, "I'm saddened that Chief McWilliam is retiring under these circumstances. These comments his family and him have endured from some over the last four weeks since CTV Barrie Newschose to air a one-sided story have been despicable. We wish him the very best in his retirement."
In the statement, Vadeboncoeur also thanks the fire chief for his 33 years of service and notes his time as the town's health and safety manager.
An email to staff said McWilliam had asked the town to hold off on throwing him a retirement party until after the municipal election in late October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.