Alert Bay Leaders Ban Alleged Assailant After Travel Nurse Attacked on Street
Emma MacLeod
8/24/20262 min read
Community leaders on Cormorant Island, off northern Vancouver Island, have agreed to ban a woman from the area after she allegedly assaulted a travel nurse working at the local hospital.
Don Svanvik, elected chief of the ’Namgis First Nation, described the incident as deeply troubling.
“It’s a really unfortunate and tragic event,” Svanvik said.
“It’s a really troubling, difficult one to sort out. This whole community is ours and we need to protect ourselves and protect visitors.”
Nurse Allegedly Attacked During Evening Walk
Svanvik said the nurse was out for an evening walk when the alleged assault occurred.
Alert Bay Mayor Dennis Buchanan said the woman accused in the incident came out of a house and allegedly attacked the nurse on the street.
Buchanan said it remains unclear what may have prompted the confrontation.
Two young women who witnessed the incident intervened, according to the mayor.
“We’re very grateful to those two young ladies for stepping up and putting themselves at risk to stop an assault,” Buchanan said.
Nurse Has Returned Home to Calgary
Svanvik and Buchanan said the alleged assailant is not from Alert Bay and had been visiting from another community.
The nurse is from Calgary and has since returned home, Svanvik said.
He added that she had previously worked at the Alert Bay hospital on several occasions and was well regarded in the community.
“She’s a wonderful lady,” Svanvik said. “We’re hopeful that she’s willing to come back.”
Community Leaders Agree to Ban Woman
Svanvik said Cormorant Island leaders have banned individuals from the community in the past, although such measures are uncommon.
Buchanan said he strongly supported the decision in this case.
“I wholeheartedly agree,” he said. “We have decided in this community that if people really step out of line here, we don’t want them here.”
The woman is known to some residents, Buchanan said, and photographs of her have been circulating in the community.
He said that if she returns and is recognized, she will be escorted back to the ferry that connects Cormorant Island with Port McNeill and Malcolm Island.
The allegations surrounding the assault have not been proven in court.
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