Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson Charged With Sexual Assault, Says He Will Take Leave

Noah Chen

10/16/20262 min read

The mayor of Valemount, B.C., has been charged with sexual assault and says he will step away from his duties while the allegation is dealt with in court.

Online court records show Owen Torgerson was charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault that occurred at or near Valemount on April 2.

The identity of the complainant is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

The allegation has not been proven in court, and Torgerson says he intends to defend himself against the charge.

Mayor Arrested in April

Torgerson was arrested in April and released shortly afterward.

Court records indicate he is expected to make an appearance on Oct. 29.

The formal charge document was filed earlier this week.

No further details about the alleged incident have been released publicly.

Torgerson Expected to Be Acclaimed

Torgerson is also expected to return as mayor of Valemount because he is the only candidate running for the position in the Oct. 17 municipal election.

The village, located in northern British Columbia near the Alberta border, has a population of about 1,000.

Valemount sits roughly 80 kilometres west of Jasper, Alta., as the crow flies.

A newly elected municipal council is expected to be sworn in after the election.

Community Charter Requires Leave of Absence

Under B.C.’s Community Charter, a municipal council member charged with a criminal offence must take a leave of absence from their elected duties.

Torgerson confirmed in a statement that he intends to comply with that requirement.

“I strenuously maintain my innocence and intend to defend the matter through the appropriate legal process,” he said.

“At the same time, I take seriously both the responsibilities of public office and my obligations under the Community Charter.”

Mayor Says He Hopes to Return

Torgerson said serving as Valemount’s mayor for the past eight years has been a “tremendous privilege.”

He also expressed gratitude for the support he has received from residents.

“I remain committed to this community and hope, once this matter has been resolved, to have the opportunity to return to serving its residents once again,” he said.

For now, the criminal charge remains before the courts, and no finding of guilt has been made.

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