Supporters of the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat are planning at demonstration outside Town Hall, Tuesday night at 5:30.
Wendy Tanner is one of the organizers. She says they’re demanding answers over the firing of conservation coordinator Dylan McCart on October 9th. They say he was told by the town’s CAO and human resources manager that his job no longer exists, and they escorted him off the property.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for what happened,” claims Tanner. “So we’re looking for the mayor to step up and tell us why.”
She calls McCart the heart and soul of the Habitat, leading animal care staff and moving it towards becoming a research facility.
The 6:00pm council meeting will have only Mayor Denis Clement at Town Hall, with his six councillors participating remotely.
“Yeah, we realize that,” Tanner admits, “but we still feel like we’re making a presence. He’ll know we’re outside. Hopefully, he’ll be having to drive by us to get into the building.”
The mayor tells My Cochrane Now Dot Com that he won’t comment on McCart, because it’s a personnel matter. Nor will he comment on ongoing negotiations for the Habitat board to take over its operations.