GABRIOLA ISLAND — High ranking members of the Island’s volunteer fire department and its governing board deny civil suit allegations of a hostile work environment and improper financial activities.
In a response to a civil suit filed in March, the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID), its board chair Paul Giffin, Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) chief Will Sprogis and a third un-named individual resoundingly deny allegations of a “culture of intimidation and hostility” filed by former employee Matthew Dow.
The response filed in B.C. Supreme Court on April 22, and made available publicly in early May, comes after Dow alleged bullying and a hostile work environment, along with improper payments made to a fire department member.
“GFPID vigorously denies that there is or was culture of intimidation and hostility within the GFPID or GVFD,” the response reads. “Further, Mr. Sprogis denies that he engaged in unprofessional conduct toward, or bullying and harassment of, any individuals within GFPID and GVFD at any time.”
Allegations of bullying and harassment
The response denies all allegations of harassment from the District, Giffin, Sprogis or the un-named member.
It states Sprogis met with Dow in early September 2024 after Dow requested information about a bullying and harassment committee, or relevant paperwork so he could “formally submit a complaint against the Trustees.”
Legal representatives of Sprogis state when the pair met, Dow said he didn’t want to do anything, “but simply wanted it on record.”
Allegations of harassment from Giffin were also alleged in Dow’s March 2025 suit, including an October 2024 incident where Giffin was said to have yelled and used offensive language toward Dow.
Giffin denies the event, stating he spoke with Dow on Oct. 8, 2024 and asked for specific examples, claiming Dow was unable to provide any.
“It was in that context that Mr. Giffin stated that, if Dow could not provide any examples of conduct to support his allegations of bullying and harassment against Mr. Giffin, Dow owed him an apology.”
The response also denied Dow’s claims of District and department staff performing searches of his email account “to identify a basis to terminate [Dow] with cause.”
Financial investigation
Dow’s suit alleged “improper payments” were made to Jennifer Knight, Sprogis’ wife, with her time at practices, meetings and course training paid for both by the District and the BC Ambulance Service.
The response does not mention Knight’s name, however the allegations made by Dow are denied by the defendants.
Regarding Dow’s actions and investigation into the matter, under his role as corporate officer, the response states he did not “have any responsibility for or authority to conduct investigations into financial matters, including any alleged financial irregularities.”
The response states Dow, without the Board’s knowledge and just two days after communicating his concerns to the Board, wrote the Inspector of Municipalities “seeking assistance with allegations of payroll fraud”.
Including on the email, via blind carbon copy, was a member of the public, according to the response.
Sprogis also denies a claim he accused Dow of accessing confidential employee documents in a manner outside his job scope and responsibilities.
The response claims Sprogis, via email on Dec. 11, 2024, states “private employee matters are outside the scope of your role and responsibilities.”
Sprogis then told Dow the “matter has been internally resolved, including all payroll concerns.”
Also denied were allegations Sprogis became confrontational and angry, demanding to see Dow’s phone to read text between Dow and the member who’s alerted him to the alleged payroll irregularities.
“Chief Sprogis denies that he demanded Dow give him his cellphone so he could read text messages between Dow and [the member]. To the contrary, Dow put his cellphone in Chief Sprogis’ face to show that he had not been texting [the member].”
Sprogis further denied a request for Dow to keep him apprised of further conversations with the member, and he states he did not threaten Dow with “serious consequences”, use intimidation tactics or raise his voice, if he failed to do so.
Dow’s Termination
Dow’s suit states he was terminated without cause on March 13, 2025 and was not given a reasonable notice or compensation in lieu.
The District, Sprogis and Giffin’s response states concerns around Dow’s job performance arose over time, including “a number of unpaid and/or late paid invoices which had or were incurring service charges, all of which pre-dated Dow’s leave”.
Issues regarding Dow emailing his personal account from his work account were also flagged, with the frequency increasing in early December 2024 according to the document.
It also alleges Dow removed documents from the workplace without permission or knowledge of others.
Meetings in early March between Dow and the Board were convened, according to the response, where it’s stated “Dow failed to provide any reasonable explanation regarding his ongoing performance issues, including his breaches of his duty of confidentiality, and had no suggestions as to how to remedy the employment relationship.”
The response states Dow’s termination without cause was “in no way related to his allegations of bullying and harassment against Mr. Sprogis.”
Dow was paid to March 13, according to the response, as well as owed vacation time and two additional weeks in lieu of notice.
His suit features a request for six months’ pay, as well as punitive, aggravated and special damages.
Dow’s filing nearly two months ago came the same day CUPE announced 29 members of the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department would unionize through Local 606 in Nanaimo.
Next steps
Barring a private out-of-court resolution between the parties, a B.C. Supreme Court judge will review the arguments at trial and render a decision.
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