Monarch Theatre harassment allegations prompt call to dissolve Medicine Hat agency

Some business owners in downtown Medicine Hat are calling for the dissolution of theCity Centre Development Agency, saying itisn't dealing properly with allegations of workplace harassment against teens and young adults at the Monarch Theatre.

Former employees of the theatre, who ranged in age from 13 to 25 when they worked there, told CBC News they were sexually harassed and verbally abused by the theatre manager in incidents that spanned from 2013 to this past summer.

• Monarch theatre workers say complaints about on-going harassment unresolved

Les Schwabe ischairman of the CCDA, which owns the Monarch Theatre. Hehas dismissed the complaints as unfounded, even suggesting the young people were conned by adults into saying they had been harassed.

But downtown business owner Shila Sharps called that outrageous.Sharps is circulating a petition among business owners who are members of the agency, calling on city council to dissolve the organization.

"Even if I wasn't a downtown business, I would be losing my mind right now," she said. "These are young kids going into the workplace. You can't tell me that they can be conned and manipulated into this."

Petition calls for CCDA's dissolution

The CCDA was created by the City of Medicine Hat with the goal of boosting economic activity downtown, and membership in the group is mandatory for area businesses.

Another business owner, Leslie Cochrane, said she's glad the harassment allegations have come to light.

"I've known about all of this for almost a year," she said.

"I would be enraged if nothing had been done."

Monarch Theatre procedures face provincial review

The province says occupational health and safety inspectors will review the procedures at the Monarch Theatre to ensure workers are adequately protected.

"The government also encourages anyone who feels they have been a victim of discrimination to contact the Alberta Human Rights Commission," Leah Holoiday, press secretary to Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson, said in an email.

The commission has a confidential inquiry line, and can be reached at 403-297-6571.