This second sign has apparently been removed as well. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

City Hall

Report on firearms sign will be at next meeting

Jul 12, 2022 | 3:57 PM

A report on why a sign advertising a firearms company was taken down from the baseball field between St. Francis School and École Vickers will be presented to council this month.

Melanie Markling, co-owner of Elite Firearms which owned the sign, questioned city council on the decision to remove the sign during the public forum portion of yesterday’s meeting.

“You told paNOW that Northern Elite Firearms and the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association did not follow the proper protocol or procedure. Which bylaw did we violate? What didn’t we do?” Markling asked of Mayor Greg Dionne.

Dionne replied that the topic would be commented on once a report has been presented to council at their next meeting.

“I’m not going to debate with you. It’s coming up at council on the July 18 meeting and that’s when we’ll have a report and that’s when we’ll comment on it,” he said.

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He reminded Markling that the role of guest speakers at council meetings is to make presentations which council then considers later when they have had more complete information brought forward by staff.

The issue of the sign first arose when Markling noted on Father’s Day that the Elite Firearms sponsorship sign had been removed from the baseball field situated between the two schools.

After a local group took on usage and sponsorship of the diamonds, they looked for local business sponsorship to help cover the cost and included in the group of sponsors was Elite Firearms.

Previously, Dionne told paNOW that the proper procedure had not been followed when the sign was erected and that all the signs on the field would be reviewed.

A staff member told Markling in a phone call that there had been a complaint from a parent who was upset that firearms were being advertised next to schools, especially in light of the recent killing of 21 students and staff at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com