Whitby mayor to review security measures as police investigate incident at town hall

Whitby’s mayor said she will examine security measures at council chambers as Durham police investigate an incident that happened after a meeting on Monday evening. 

Mayor Elizabeth Roy said a man inappropriately approached a female councilor at Whitby Town Hall after a council meeting ended at 11 p.m. She said the man approached the councillor in an aggressive manner that restricted her movement. 

“We have a responsibility to ensure that public service is safe for everyone, and that includes calling out and condemning behaviour that seeks to silence or discourage women from participating in civic life,” the mayor said in a statement on Tuesday. 

After the incident, Roy told CBC News some female councillors have approached her, “asking for how they can be better supported.” 

She said the council’s security is doing a full review of the incident. 

“Our council chambers need to be a safe place,” Roy said. 

“We always need to be taking a look at the security measures that are in place, to give the support for everybody to feel that way.” 

Roy identified the man as David Menzies, an employee of right-wing media outlet Rebel News. Victoria Bozinkovski, who represents East Ward (4), confirmed she was the councilor involved. 

Bozinkovski declined an interview, citing the police investigation, but provided a short statement via text message.

“The interaction was not journalism. It was threatening, harassment and physical,” Bozinkovski said. 

Menzies denied harassing Bozinkovski in a video posted on the outlet’s social media on Tuesday. 

CBC News reached out to Menzies and Rebel News for comment on Tuesday. 

Durham police spokesperson Kristie Jones confirmed officers responded to a disturbance call at Whitby Town Hall around 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

“Officers spoke with a male and escorted him from the building,” she said in an email. “He was not arrested and no charges have been laid at this time.”