There is a shakeup at the Winnipeg Bear Clan. According to board member Johnathan Drozdowski in an email to APTN News, Linda Campbell, former chair has stepped down.
“I can confirm that board changes have recently occurred, however, we are not prepared to comment on these changes at this time,” he said.
Bear Clan Patrol is a volunteer security group that helps Indigenous people stay safe in inner city neighbourhoods.
Some of the patrollers are family members of the Indigenous women whose remains are believed to be in the Prairie Green Landfill. A search of that landfill has been deemed feasible but could take years and cost more than $180 million.
Campbell’s resignation follows the departure of Brian Chrupalo, a Winnipeg Police Sergeant who became controversial after he was present at an injunction to protesters at a blockade near Camp Morgan at the Brady Landfill in July. Chrupalo was a supervisor and a city official served the actual injunction.
The blockade went up in response to the Premier’s refusal to back a search for remains at the Prairie Green landfill. The Premier cited hazards to searchers with no guarantee that remains will be found as the reason for not backing the search.
A petition started on Change.org that gathered more than 770 signatures, calling for Chrupalo’s resignation as a director on Bear Clan’s Board due to a conflict of interest in serving the Indigenous community.
Chrupalo, who is Métis, was previously the board chair before stepping down from that role to serve as a board member in July 2022.
The board has accepted Brian’s decision with regret,” said a Bear Clan Inc. Facebook post from 2022.
APTN News contacted Chrupalo but declined to comment. It’s unclear if Chrupalo was removed or if he voluntarily stepped down.
Bear Clan Patrol will hold its Annual General Meeting on September 25th, where a new board will be selected.
Correction: August 24, 2023 an earlier version of this story said that Sgt. Chrupalo served the injunction. In fact, he participated in a supervisory role as a member of the WPS. APTN regrets the error.
