Article content continued

“He immediately contacted Elections B.C. and our lawyers, to be advised that there did not appear to be anything in the materials which would disqualify the candidate under B.C. or Canadian law. With no grounds for cancelling the election or candidacy, the municipality was obligated by law to hold it.”

He said that the Squamish RCMP, which provides policing services to the village, advised that “there was nothing for the municipality to do, and indicated the RCMP would be taking no action unless requested by the Ontario Provincial Police.

“I can say that the village’s lawyers are confident that neither the village, nor its officers, nor its elected officials, did any wrong.”

Referring to the matter as a “half-story” that broke in the press, Buhr said: “The deplorable vitriol spewed out by social media trolls that brought this resignation about … angers and disappoints me. We have lost more than a councillor. A byelection will be held in due course.”

On Friday, Buhr said in a separate statement: “This is a troubling time for as close-knit a community as Lions Bay. Eileen Wilke has done a decent thing, to try to spare more divisiveness. I hope we extend that decency to her too, whatever our views.”

Thomson described the news Thursday as a win, but said she was still processing it.

“I think this is exactly what should happen, but emotionally it doesn’t do much for me,” she said. “Thank you to all the people in Lions Bay who made this happen.”

Thomson added that she hoped the resignation was a sign of remorse from her mother.

bmorton@postmedia.com

— With files from Bethany Lindsay