By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Claresholm councillor who filed human rights complaint resigns

Aug 14, 2018 | 11:18 AM

CLARESHOLM – A town councillor in Claresholm who said she was beaten in a home invasion has resigned her position.

Mayor Doug MacPherson said Donna Courage’s resignation is “unfortunate and regretful.” Courage told police in January she suffered cuts, bruises, and a black eye when a man forced his way into her home and told her to be quiet and leave town.

MacPherson said her resignation Monday, Aug. 13 came as a surprise. He added he didn’t know if January’s attack was a factor, saying she didn’t like to talk about it. Courage said at the time she felt she had ruffled feathers with her platform of transparency and accountability. The conversion of a former school as a new town office was one of her disagreements with other councillors.

“We’ve had differences of opinions, but overall it was respectful,” MacPherson told LethbridgeNewsNOW Tuesday. “She definitely did have some different opinions than some of the other members of council, but that’s just a normal council. I don’t think you’ll ever find a council that’s all on the same side. There’s different opinions on every council in Alberta.”

Courage did not immediately return a phone call requesting an interview. The town announced her resignation in a news release on its website Monday.

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“I think she could have, if she’d have stayed, she would have had more input for Claresholm, and there could have been some good come out of it. But you’ve got to respect her choice and we wish her all the best in the future, wherever she might end up,” MacPherson added.

In February Courage filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. MacPherson said the town has been told little about the progress of the complaint, but it hasn’t reached the point of a hearing.

The mayor said he doesn’t think others will be deterred from running when a byelection is held in October.

“I’ve been out and about today around town and on Facebook, there’s quite a bit – it’s pretty positive and it sounds like there’ll be a full roster of people putting their name forward to fill the vacant seat.”