Banff councillor enters not guilty plea to sexual assault charge

 Banff town councillor Hugh Pettigrew has entered a not guilty plea to charges of sexual assault.

While a trial date has been set for June 10, 2025, Pettigrew’s legal team has asked for an interim court date of Oct. 9 in hopes of resolving the matter.

Leanndria Halcro, who appeared as agent for Pettigrew’s high-profile lawyer Tonii Roulston in the Alberta Court of Justice in Canmore on Wednesday (Sept. 11), said her instructions were to seek an adjournment to Oct. 9 in order to have early case resolution discussions with Crown prosecutors.

“The hope is to be able to resolve this matter,” she said, appearing via virtual courtroom.

In an earlier court date on Aug. 28, Halcro said Pettigrew was entering a plea of not guilty and a trial date was set for June 10, 2025.

Pettigrew was charged with sexual assault on Jan. 30, resulting from an alleged incident on Dec. 23, 2023.

A publication ban is in place on any evidence that could identify the complainant.

Pettigrew was elected to Banff town council in 2021. He had a failed mayoral race in 2017 against incumbent mayor Karen Sorensen, who is now a Canadian senator.

Elected municipal officials in Alberta can continue to sit on council while facing criminal charges.

Pettigrew has been attending council meetings remotely until recently, when he returned in person for the Aug. 26 meeting. He is currently acting mayor.