Monarch theatre workers say complaints about on-going harassment unresolved

Several young people who say they've been verbally and sexually harassed at a Medicine Hat theatre are questioning why little is being done to address their complaints.

The young people, who ranged in age from 13 to 25 when they worked at the Monarch Theatre, say they were harassed by the theatre manager. The incidents started in 2013, and allegedly took place until this past summer.

The theatre is owned by the City Centre Development Agency (CCDA), which was created by the City of Medicine Hat to promote the economic and cultural development of the city's downtown.

The complainants say they were yelled andsworn at andsexual comments were made about their appearance.In one case, a cartoon of a scantily-clad woman was allegedlyshown to an underage employee as an example of how she should dress.

A 17-year-old girl says the manager told her she would "look hot in a short skirt that was halfway up my butt," and that she was sometimes told by the man she had a "sexy ass."

Anotherworker, a26-year-old woman, says the manageroffered to give her a massagesomething she refused.

Other underage girls say the man would talk about pornographic movies and they heard what sounded like pornographic material as he watched a laptop in his office. The girls would warn new employees to always knock before entering the office just in case he was watching such material.

A girl who complained about the man's behaviour when she was 15 left the theatre to work elsewhere. She says she was told to find another job if she wasn't happy working there.

The complainants all spoke to CBC News on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution for speaking out.

Manager declines to comment

CBC News asked the theatre manager for his commentsabout the allegations but he declined, saying he was not authorized to speak with the media. The CBC is not naming the man because it's not believed these are criminal matters.

Some complaints have been registered with the City Centre Development Agency whichowns the theatre, but the employees and their parents who have spoken with theCCDAsay nothing is ever done.

One boy told his mother aboutverbal abuse he received and she filed a complaint with the agency. Ameeting was held with CCDA officials to discuss the alleged mistreatment.

The teen said two of the adults in the meeting didn't take his complaint very seriously.

"The one guy was drawing triangles on a piece of paper and looking down the entire meeting.And the other man,he was not paying attention and he sometimes made eye contact. It seemed like he was pre-occupied on other stuff," he said.

The boy said he never heard anything more about his complaints, buthis hours were cut soon after before beingtold there was no more work for him at the theatre. In an e-mail, he asked the manager if he was fired but no explanation was offered anda finalpaychequewas mailed to him.

CCDA chair says allegations unfounded

Earlier this year, the parent of a 17-year-old girl called aCCDAboard member to complain about his daughter being sexually harassed by the theatre manager. TheCCDAofficial called the Medicine Hat policeto investigate.

The police confirm they did interviews but there was no evidence to support a criminal charge.

The police determined nothing has happened and that's how it was left.- CCDAchairLesSchwabe

LesSchwabe, the chair of theCCDA, said the allegations of any misconduct against its employee are totally unfounded.Schwabesaid some of the complaints from two years ago were "all looked after."

He said in the most recent incident reported to the police this year, there was no evidence of criminal wrong-doing.

"The police determined nothing has happened and that's how it was left," saidSchwabe.

Schwabesaid any complaintsbrought to theCCDAboard have been investigated but he declined to provide any details about what was done. He said he would be willing to listen to anyone if they choose to step forward.

'I think they're being coerced'

However, he is questioning how sincere the complainants actually are about what's going on.

"I think they're being coerced by some adults that have a different agenda that's part of it. Like I said,... if these things happened, why wouldn't they them and their parents especially why wouldn't they bring these allegations forward?" saidSchwabe.

He refused to say what the "different agenda"might be but he pointed out there have been some recent disagreements amongCCDAboard members and that's why he's discounting the allegations of harassment.

"It doesn't seem like they're very valid to me or are ... these kids getting coached into making complaints or issues that haven't actually come forward. I don't know. You'd have to ask them."

Mayor won't weighin

Medicine Hat city council appoints the CCDA board members and gives the organization an annual grant of $100,000. The city also collects a mandatory special levy annually from the more than 200 members who are downtown business owners.

When told byCBC News aboutthe extent of the harassment complaints, Mayor TedClugstonsaid he was unaware of them but that it was a concern. However, he refused repeated requeststo do an interview about the matter and the city's role.

A city official, who answered questions about the city's relationship with theCCDAon a background basis, said there's little the city can do about the situation. It cannot intervene or ask theCCDAto do anythingas the agencyis a separate legal entity from the City of Medicine Hat.

However, if 25 per cent ofCCDAmembers sign a petition asking city council to dissolve the organization, the official said city council would give first reading to such a motion. Then it must canvass the entire membership to see if more than 50 per cent support closing downthe agency.

The victims of the alleged harassment who have spoken to the CBC no longer work at the Monarch Theatre.

They say they're disappointed no one is taking their issues seriously and there's no one to turn to for help and investigate what's happening at the theatre.

"It makes me feel like people are taking no responsibility for what they're doing," said one young complainant.