Jim Watson snowmobile crash not result of wrongdoing, club says
CBC News | Posted: March 7, 2015 11:00 AM | Last Updated: March 7, 2015
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson fractured his pelvis on Feb. 28 in a snowmobile crash
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson was injured in a "slow-moving" incident, according to the Osgoode Carleton Snowmobile Trail Club.
Ryan Downing, a member of the club executive, sat down with Lucy van Oldenbarneveld to discuss the incident and snowmobile safety on this week's episode of Our Ottawa.
On Feb. 28, Watson was learning how to ride a snowmobile with three councillors — Mathieu Fleury, Michael Qaqish and George Darouze. Darouze, the former president of the snowmobile club, had been teaching Watson.
Downing said the mayor then fell off his snowmobile and landed awkwardly. He was taken to the hospital where it was learned the mayor fractured his pelvis.
Nobody was in the wrong, Downing added.
"Any time there's an accident, people automatically assume there might have been some wrongdoing or some recklessness, and that wasn't the case here," he told Lucy.
"It was a very slow-moving accident and people were actually surprised there was any kind of injury."
Watson apologized for negative attention
Downing also said Watson apologized to Darouze for bringing negative attention to the club, which was shared during a meeting of the executive this past week.
You can watch the full interview above and during Our Ottawa, CBC Television's weekly magazine program that airs Saturday at Noon, Sunday at 11 a.m. and Monday at 1 p.m.
Join host Lucy van Oldenbarneveld for a look at what's happening in our community, plus lifestyle tips and stories about health, consumer, music, arts and entertainment.
Also this week on Our Ottawa:
- Calling the Shots: University of Ottawa students set up a pilot program to help the homeless and new immigrants get trained as soccer referees.
- Scared Straight: Police and amateur actors use a dramatic play to show teens the harmful effects of drug addiction.
- Ontario Scene: The NAC gets ready to put on a festival in Ottawa featuring more than 600 artists from Ontario.