News release

Board Decision in Sex Harassment Case

Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

A recent board of inquiry has ruled in favour of a Dartmouth woman in a discrimination case involving sexual harassment in the workplace.

Sylvia Wigg had alleged that Guy Harrison, the owner of Art Pro Litho in Dartmouth, sexually harassed her while she worked for his business between 1995 and 1997. She filed a formal complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission in 1997.

In the ruling, board chair Royden Trainor wrote that he found Mrs. Wigg's evidence to be consistent and credible and that Mr. Harrison did sexually harass her. In reaching his decision, Mr. Trainor accepted that Mrs. Wigg received a number of unwanted sexual advances from Mr. Harrison, even though she had told him repeatedly that she was not interested.

"The respondent put Mrs. Wigg in a extremely unfortunate situation, vulnerable and desperately needing employment she was trapped in a job with a boss that slowly is chipping away at her dignity and self respect by his unacceptable conduct, to wit his sexual harassment," Mr. Trainor wrote in the decision.

The board ordered the following remedy:

  • a letter of apology for Mrs. Wigg

  • $3,800 in general and exemplary damages and $1,200 in lost earnings, with pre-judgment interest at five per cent over two years

  • Mr. Harrison be required to take sensitivity training and that the respondents file a sexual harassment policy conforming with the Human Rights Act with the Halifax office of the commission within six months of the judgment

The inquiry was held on Feb. 22, 1999, in Halifax. Boards of inquiry are appointed under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act and are the final stage in the human rights complaint process. Board orders can be appealed to the courts.