City of Chestermere top official Kim Wallace is set to appear in Strathmore court on July 17 after pleading not guilty to assaulting a fellow staff member.
The specifics of the incident remain unclear, but it is alleged that Wallace put her hands on an employee during a loud, verbal disagreement at city hall. In a written statement, Wallace referenced the Canadian Charter of Rights in that she should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and hopes to "clear my good name in court."
"For those in our community, who have pre-judged me without knowing any of the facts, I remind them of what it means to be Canadian, to live in a country where we value our freedom and our rights. I have the right, just as we all do, to be presumed innocent. We all deserve the right to an unbiased opinion until the facts of a case are heard in a court of law," she said.
"Spreading rumours and gossip only serves to harm, rather than build up our community. Chestermere is a beautiful place to live. We should not allow the toxicity created by lies and rumours to permeate our city."
Chestermere Mayor Jeff Colvin defended Wallace, calling the charges a "distorted claim."
Since the incident, Wallace has remained in her role as a top official, but was mandated to work remotely. She is defended by criminal defence lawyer Alain Hepner, and said she is paying the cost of her own legal fees.
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