A rendering of Vernon's Active Living Centre
Image Credit: www.vernonalc.ca
March 27, 2025 - 6:00 AM
A senior manager in charge of overseeing Vernon's new $135-million Active Living Centre is suing the city alleging he was pushed out of the job after he was told not to communicate with the city manager.
According to a March 21 Notice of Claim filed in the BC Supreme Court, Active Living Centre senior project manager Christopher Sheel claims that if he didn't like the changes made, he would be removed from the project.
The multipurpose recreation facility — which includes an aquatic centre with a 50-metre pool, fitness centre and double gymnasium — was approved by referendum in 2022 and is set to cost no more than $135-million. It's currently under construction and scheduled to be completed by late 2026.
The court documents say that the issue arose in December 2024 when City of Vernon chief administrative officer Peter Weeber told him the reporting structure for the construction of the new recreational centre had "dramatically" changed.
"It was made clear to Mr. Sheel that if he did not like the changes, he would be removed from the Active Living Centre project. It was further made clear that Mr. Sheel was not even welcome to provide feedback," the Notice of Claim reads.
The 53-year-old has been with the City of Vernon for more than a decade and in 2023 signed a $131,000 contract as a senior project manager project for the Active Living Centre. The court document says Sheel's job included being the first point of contact to the city manager.
Together with former recreation services director Doug Ross, the two would oversee the multimillion dollar project for the city.
During a December 2024 meeting, Sheel alleges he was told by Weeber he was to listen only "and not speak" and that meetings would be "one-way."
"The CAO indicated Doug Ross would be the one to explain further and that Mr. Sheel was to 'trust' that all would be well," the court document reads.
Weeber became "visibly perturbed" when Sheel said that trust would be difficult given the "one-way conversation" and lack of consultation, the court document says.
In an effort to calm the situation, Sheel sent an email to Weeber about his role in the project.
The next day, Ross told Sheel he'd have an explanation of the new reporting procedures the following week.
However, Sheel claims Ross then emailed all those involved in the project, including outside contractors, telling them Sheel's reporting role had changed.
"Among other comments troubling to Mr. Sheel, the email stated outright that the change had yet to be discussed with Mr. Sheel, but had been discussed with others outside of City of Vernon staff," the Notice of Claim reads.
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The court document says Sheel is still yet to see the email.
"Mr. Sheel was alerted by a third party about the email and the damaging impact to the third party’s company team’s psychological safety," the document reads.
A month or so later Ross told Sheel not to communicate with the city manager at all.
"This restriction seriously impeded Mr. Sheel’s ability to effectively do his job. As a result, Mr. Sheel felt that he had no realistic option to remedy his employment situation. Accordingly, he was constructively dismissed," the court document says.
The court document says Sheel was earning $144,000 and if he'd seen the contract through to the end it was worth a further $367,000.
The court document doesn't put a dollar amount on what Sheel is after, only general damages.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and the city has not filed a response yet.
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