A former chief executive officer has filed a lawsuit against the Northern B.C. Tourism Association over a decision to demote him upon his return to work after going through treatment for cancer.
Anthony Everett, the volunteer chair of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, filed a notice of civil claim Friday at the Prince George courthouse.
In the claim, he alleges the organization "breached duties of good faith, honesty and fair dealing" when NBCTA board members told him in September he would no longer be employed as CEO.
Instead, he was offered the position of destination and business developer reporting directly to the CEO.
The position came with an annual salary of $85,000, representing a drop of $30,000 from what he previously earned before an annual bonus of $5,000 to $6,000 per year.
The move amounted to constructive dismissal, Everett argues in the notice.
Everett had been the NBCTA's CEO for eight years when, in July 2014, he was diagnosed with cancer and went on medical leave.
Slightly more than a year later, in August 2015, Everett told NBCTA he was ready to return to work and would like to begin in mid-September. Later in August, the NBCTA confirmed he could return to work on that date but did not tell him he would no longer be CEO, according to the notice.
On Sept. 10, 2015, five days before he was to resume his job, Everett was told he could not return and to distance himself from the office until he had met with the board's chair.
On Sept. 21, they did meet and Everett was given the news he would no longer be CEO and he was offered the lesser position.
Everett, who moved to Prince George from Victoria to take on the job in August 2006, is claiming damages for pay in lieu of reasonable notice, the cost of finding new employment and moving from Prince George and mental distress.
Everett remains unemployed, according to the notice.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court and the NBCTA has not yet filed a response.
