Vernon appealing ruling that ordered fired Captain back to work

VERNON – The City of Vernon is challenging a labour board decision which ordered them to re-hire a fire captain who was fired after being caught engaging in sexual activity with a colleague in the fire chief's office.

A media release from the City says it has filed an application with the Labour Relations Board appealing an order from the Arbitration Board to re-hire fire captain Brent Bond. The City has also filed an application to stay the re-hiring of the fire captain while the Labour Board’s review is pending.

Vernon Fire Service captain Brent Bond was fired in March 2018, after a hidden surveillance camera, that had been set up for different reasons, caught Bond and another employee engaging in a "brief episode of consensual sexual activity" in the fire chief's office. 

However, the City of Vernon was ordered to re-hire Bond March 15 after an arbitration panel decision. The arbitration boards decision also exposed the fire department's toxic workplace.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.