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By JEREMY APPEL on November 23, 2019.

NEWS FILE PHOTO

The Medicine Hat Provincial Court is seen in this file photo. NEWS FILE PHOTOThe Medicine Hat Provincial Court is seen in this file photo.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com

The former executive director of the City Centre Development Agency has been charged with two child pornography offences, the News has confirmed.

Wayne Smith, 65, faces one charge each of possessing and accessing child pornography.

The charges were sworn against him June 21, although the offences allegedly occurred Nov. 15, 2018 – more than two years after his tenure at the CCDA ended.

He has been released on bail with conditions, as of Aug. 30, that he have no contact with anyone under the age of 16 unless they’re in the company of a parent or guardian, avoid public places where children could be present, is forbidden from volunteering anywhere that places him in a position of trust or authority with kids under 16 and can have no internet access except for work purposes.

His next appearance is scheduled for Dec. 19 in provincial court.

On Smith’s LinkedIn page, which lists no employment history after his time at the CCDA, he says he’s “currently available and looking for new challenges.”

He was employed at the CCDA from 2012-2016, where he worked with the city on its revitalization plan for the downtown core.

Smith was “let go” from the CCDA in March 2016 after its board approved new job descriptions for the position and told him he would have to reapply, a move Smith interpreted as an unwarranted dismissal.

Earlier that year, he was involved in an altercation with local video blogger Tom Fougere over coverage of alleged sexual harassment committed by a manager at the CCDA-run Monarch Theatre.

Fougere was charged with assault in relation to that incident, for which he entered into a peace bond that resulted in the charge’s withdrawal.