A council member in Dryden, Ontario, who was instructed by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to pay the city $17,000 asserts his intention to participate in the forthcoming municipal election. The City of Dryden disclosed receiving multiple complaints involving Coun. Ritch Noel in late December 2024 and early January 2025, prompting an external investigation that determined Noel had engaged in bullying and harassment of city staff.
Following the investigation, the city advised Noel to refrain from attending council meetings or city events in person until he completed a workplace civility training program. In response, Noel filed a Divisional Court application for a judicial review challenging the city’s decision, alleging that the city had overstepped its authority, unjustly relied on the investigator’s findings, deprived him of procedural fairness, and infringed on his constitutional rights, as per a news release issued by the city.
The case was reviewed via video conference on June 16 and officially dismissed on Monday. Justice Karen Jensen, in her decision, affirmed that the council was within its rights to impose corrective measures and ensured Noel was treated fairly throughout the process. She also stated that the council’s reliance on the investigator’s findings was reasonable, and the temporary attendance restriction was a balanced approach between Noel’s expressive interests and the city’s obligations.
Dryden, situated approximately 350 kilometers northwest of Thunder Bay, is home to about 7,400 residents. Noel, a paralegal, has undergone eight investigations by the city’s integrity commissioner since his initial election in 2022, resulting in two instances of misconduct. On July 24, 2025, Noel breached the Code of Conduct for a Facebook comment about a deceased member of Eagle Lake First Nation, as per the integrity commissioner’s report. Similarly, on May 13, 2026, the commissioner found Noel in violation of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
In response to the court decision, CBC News contacted Noel for a statement and confirmation of his candidacy in the October 26 election. Noel affirmed his intent to run, emphasizing the safety of workers as a top priority. His lawyer, Robert Sinding, based in Emo, Ontario, conveyed Noel’s commitment to appealing the decision and denying the allegations of harassment, which he believed to be politically motivated. Sinding reiterated Noel’s dedication to advocating for Dryden taxpayers and upholding accountability from senior staff, emphasizing Noel’s unwavering stance on respectful but assertive leadership in the public interest.
