In the “saying things we regret later” category, a Penticton city councillor is currently leading the pack.
Pressed by the media why she didn’t attend the Boonstock music festival, Coun. Katie Robinson hotly replied “Because I’m not a head-banging druggie.”
“It was halfway out of my mouth and I am thinking did I just say that out loud?” said Robinson.
The incident occurred at council’s regular meeting Tuesday, after what Robinson called a hard weekend with little sleep, concerned over the overdose death of a young woman at Boonstock.
“My emotions are running very high on this one because of the death involved,” said Robinson, adding she had no intention of insulting the people attending the music festival.
“James Miller (editor of the Penticton Herald) provoked me and the words were out of my mouth before the filter kicked in,” said Robinson. “He was hitting a nerve last night and unfortunately, for me, I reacted very badly. It certainly wasn’t becoming of my position.”
Robinson, one of the founders of Fest-of-Ale and a former chair of the Peach Festival Society, said she has been supporting music events in the community for more than two decades. And though the music played at Boonstock wasn’t to her personal taste, she was airing her frustration in the wrong direction.
“Everyone is entitled to listen to whoever they want to. My frustration is with the organizers,” she said. “I have been quite vocal that they (Boonstock organizers) were not prepared. I have no problem supporting well-run, well-organized events.”
Robinson said she spent Wednesday afternoon responding personally to emails.
“I regret it. If nothing else, I have always conducted myself in a polite, professional manner. I was anything but Tuesday night,” she said. “There is no excuse, it never should have been said. But given the emotion and the provocation, it happened.”