Connie Denesiuk, the Liberal candidate in the newly-formed federal riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay, responded swiftly last Thursday to complaints about the placement of one of her campaign signs.
Taking full responsibility for the questionable placement of the sign, close to the ignition point of the Rock Creek fire, amidst acres of charred ground and just below the ruins of the first home destroyed by the blaze, Denesiuk reacted almost immediately to the negative comments that flooded Facebook within minutes of the sign being reported.
She quickly left a family social event in Summerland and travelled alone to Rock Creek with an apology in hand.
Camped out in the parking lot of the town’s general store, she awaited what she expected to be an angry group of residents; none materialized, though she did speak to the Times for several minutes about the controversy.
When asked what she would like to tell the people of Rock Creek and Westbridge, especially those who had lost their home, Denesiuk was visibly shaken by the situation.
“I would like to offer my heartfelt apologies for the terrible placement of my sign.” said Denesiuk. “Having it placed so near the devastation was extremely insensitive and should not have happened.”
The sign had been erected by one of her volunteers the day before. Denesiuk removed it immediately.