Voter 'coaching' charged: George Mallet chosen president at court-ordered CIFC elections

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A January court ruling by a Calgary magistrate that the Calgary Indian Friednship Centre's 1986 elections were unconstitutional has caused the centre to hold new elections this past weekend. The court action was brought by one of the centre's members, George Chatsis.

In light of the judge's decision, the centre was required to return to the polls in order to operate lawfully. A total of 101 voters turned out to what proved to be a relatively quiet meeting, according to board member Leslie Crossingham. The number of voters was significant given the fact that the past few elections have drawn about 70 people, she said.

Two Catholic nuns acted as scrutineers and when the ballots had been case and counted, the results were:

Three-year terms for Pauline Dempsey, Allan Giroux, Lila Healy and George Mallet.

Two-year terms for Lloyd Ewenin and Jack Kakakaway, and

One-year terms for Leslie Crossingham, Henry Standing Alone and Lorraine Stevens.

Dempsey, Healy Kakakaway and Mallet are all newly-elected members. The others are all former board members who were returned to office. Continuing board members are Hart Cantalon, Aurele Dumont (formerly president) and Mary Porter.

Following the elections a brunch was served and the new board held a separate meeting to elect their executive. Allan Giroux, Mallet and Dumont were nominated for president. Dumont declined his nomination and Giroux lost to Mallet, who is to fill the president's position for the next year. Giroux became the vice president and Kakakaway the treasurer. Crossingham was elected secretary by acclamation.

George Chatsis, who ran for several of the board positions, was unable to secure a seat. When contacted by Windspeaker, he accused members of the group of electing a late of people they had "predetermined to vote for." Chatsis voiced his disapproval, saying people were told who to vote for. "They shouldn't let people manipulate them," he said.

Mattlet, the new president, denied that there was anything unorthodox that happened. "I didn't see any coaching," he commented. Even if that had been the case he added, it happens at all levels of politics and, "it is not manipulation; it's lobbying for votes."

When questioned by Windspeaker, Chatsis sounded pleased with the selection of Mallet for president. "To me, he's one of the best people elected," he stated. When pressed as to whether he will involve himself in centre activities, Chatsis said that he has a family to take care of an his time is quite occupied with coaching flowing hockey and baseball.

Mallet, who has previous involvements with the Winnipeg and Edmonton centres, says he has been active with the Calgary centre for about five years but not as a board or staff person. He does express some concern for the image of the centre. "There's no positive promotion with the general community," Mallet says and "there needs to be better recognition of the centre in a positive." People are "unaware," he added.

The president further denounces the fact that, "the centre was being used as a political platform and shouldn't. It's a gathering place for Natives coming to the city . . . a fun place to be at," he explained.

Mallet says he has not yet had sufficient opportunity to think about what he will do or what is really important for the centre. However, he does say that he "will review what's been happening (with the centre over) the last few years and just what needs to be done."