HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Representatives from the Huron-Goderich YMCA should be in front of council to explain what happened the afternoon a 14-year-old girl drowned in its pool, says a Goderich councillor.
“They have a responsibility to speak to us. Whether it be in closed session or not it’s their choice but they could have spoken to us in closed session instead of receiving a letter as part of an agenda package. It belittles the enormity of the tragedy that happened,” said Judy Crawford, during a council meeting this week.
On Jan. 19, Sarah Henry-Mills, 14, was pulled unresponsive from the deep end of the pool during a birthday party at the town-owned Maitland Recreation Centre in which the YMCA is contracted to run programs. The teen, from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, died in London’s Children’s Hospital three days later.
In a letter to the town’s mayor, Jim Janzen, who is the president and CEO of YMCAs across Southwestern Ontario, said the Y has worked with OPP in its investigation, reviewed its policies and procedures and contracted the Lifesaving Society of Canada for an external review. He said the Y’s pool is compliant with provincial licensing requirements of a Class A pool.
OPP investigators have confirmed YMCA staff responded effectively, but he said, “We are very concerned about the health and well-being of our staff and volunteers, including the first responders (lifeguards) on scene.
“I want to assure you, Town staff, and members of Goderich Council that the tragedy of this situation and the resulting loss of life is not lost on me, this organization or its staff and leadership,” he said.
He promised council a number of reports, including a report provided to its insurance company.
Coun. Jim Donnelly, who was named in the letter after questioning a Y staff member at a previous council meeting, said his questions were “reasonably innocuous.” He wondered if a report was coming from the Y and when it would arrive.
He said the Y has a responsibility under its contract with the town to notify it immediately after any occurrence that could expose it to liability.
“So there’s an absolute obligation to do exactly as I requested they do,” he said.
The Y advised the town’s clerk-administrator, Larry McCabe, of the drowning on Jan. 19, the same day as the incident, and he emailed council members the following morning.
“You’re being a little unfair to the Y when there are certain things being looked into that we’re not privy to at this point,” he told councillors.
Council referred the letter to its administration and its liaison committee.
One Comment on "Letter to explain circumstances of Y drowning isn’t good enough, councillor says"
Coun. Crawford and Coun. Donnelly are exactly right.
If a true partnership between the town and YMCA exists, answering the questions of elected representatives should be made face-to-face not in a form letter, and certainly not naming individual councillors.
What should concern us is the silence from the other councillors.
Doesn’t one of our councillors sit on the Board of Management? Shouldn’t whoever it is be the liaison without even being asked through communication channels?