Peace bond for businessman

Ahigh-profile local business owner blames his high-stress lifestyle for an argument earlier this year that resulted in him entering into a peace bond with his spouse on Friday.

Thomas Hedquist, 42, was initially charged with uttering threats and assault in relation an incident May 22, 2018. But under the terms of a joint submission accepted by a provincial judge, both charges were dropped once Hedquist agreed to the 12-month peace bond.

Conditions of the peace bond require Hedquist to continue with counselling and not own firearms.

Peace bonds do not constitute an admission of guilt or a criminal conviction.

Court didn’t hear details of the incident involving Hedquist and his spouse, other than Mounties were called when he allegedly gave her reason to fear for her life after an argument just before midnight on the date in question.

Court also heard Hedquist has already been actively involved in private counselling through Pathways Addiction Resource Centre in order to cope better with the stress that comes from owning several businesses in Penticton, where he has resided for 20 years.

“What (Hedquist) did was voluntarily participate in a five-week intensive outpatient program,” defence counsel Ian McAndrews said in his submission, and “gained some more insight into his struggles around stress management and coping skills.”

McAdrews also noted Hedquist, who has no criminal record, realizes that resorting to the use of substances does not help in coping with stress.

Hedquist was one of the original partners in Trio Marine Group, the company behind an ill-fated proposed commercial waterslides development in Skaha Lake Park.

Once that plan was killed, Trio hung onto a separate deal with the City of Penticton to operate Skaha Marina.

That agreement, which was reduced from 29 years to two at a cost to taxpayers of $200,000, ended at the conclusion of this boating season.

Hedquist is also the owner of Trademark Industries, a dockbuilding company that did nearly $1 million worth of business with local governments last year, much of it related to floodrestoration work.

Taxpayers shelled out $611,000 to Trademark through the Regional District of O kan ag an Sim ilka me en and another $177,000 through the City of Penticton, according to their statements of financial information.

Trademark earlier this year was awarded a contract from the City of Penticton worth an estimated $80,000 to repair docks at Skaha Marina. The contract had originally been direct-tendered to a Kelowna company, but Trademark successfully challenged the city’s decision to sole-source the deal.