By Thia James

City calls in its lawyer, seeks ‘resolution’ in Art Hauser incident

Jan 20, 2015 | 5:37 AM

The City of Prince Albert appears to be taking a harder line with the Prince Albert Crown Royals hockey club, as looks to pursue a settlement with the team relating to an incident that happened at the Art Hauser Centre late last year.

The City has now contacted its lawyer to meet with all of the parties it has served notice to, to see if they can come to a resolution. This comes after the City banned the recreational league team from using its facilities.

It all stems from incidents the City said occurred during a fundraiser dance held by the team in the Ches Leach Lounge on Dec. 21. According to the City, about $3,000 worth of damage was done to the lounge and a female employee was assaulted.

The Crown Royals held their fourth annual fundraiser hockey tournament and dance at the Art Hauser Centre that night. The fundraiser was in honour of a late friend and teammate. The proceeds from the tournament went to the Prince Albert SPCA and a local family that has to make trips to Saskatoon for their youngest child’s medical treatments.

The latest development was revealed by Mayor Greg Dionne after Monday evening’s council meeting. His office went public about the incident on Friday evening, weeks after it had occurred.

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“The letter clearly stated that they have an opportunity to meet with our legal counsel, Mitch Holash, and see if they can come to a resolution. So, we hope they get together and come to that meeting and see if we can come to a resolution. If they don’t, then we’ll have no choice but then to go further avenues.”

He said the damage to the building can be repaired, but for him, assaulting City staff is not acceptable.

The City has not provided details about the nature of the assault. The Prince Albert Police continue to investigate that allegation and no charges have been laid.

The liquor licence permit holders for the event face two charges under the Alcohol Gaming and Regulation Act: consuming alcohol on a premises when alcoholic beverage has not been sold or served by the permitted, as well as remaining on the permitted premises after being asked to leave.

As well, individual members of the team are subject to the ban from City facilities – not just the Prince Albert Crown Royals hockey club. Dionne said it came to light that the team has a new name.

“And we just have to make sure that the people that were involved with the Crown Royals are not part of the new team until this is resolved.”

He said the length of the ban depends on the response the City gets back from the team and its members. The City is looking for compensation and Dionne said they have to deal with the issue of the alleged assault on the member of staff.

“But at this point, we’re standing solid in our banning, strictly on the basis that we will stand solid when it comes [to] the safety of our staff. And I think that’s the No. 1 issue with council, [it] is the safety of our staff,” Dionne said.

The Crown Royals have stated that none of the team’s members were involved in the alleged assault.

The employee has since returned to work.

As well, in a statement released by the team to paNOW on Saturday, there was another party held in the lounge the night before. As well, the team’s founder, Brady Leachman said that thermostat covers were not present at the time they took over the hall.

Dionne said he’s heard the team’s defence that they didn’t cause the damage, and said he has asked them to bring forth a checklist. He said the property is checked, much in the way a renter checks a car before leaving the lot with it.

When asked if this means a member of City staff conducted an inspection, Dionne said, “that’s all I can say now without more briefing.”

Dionne said he would provide further details about incident after a briefing on Tuesday morning.

For more about the allegations, and the team’s side, click here.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames