by Ashley Wray and Vikki Hopes
The executive director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce has been suspended with pay after being charged with assault.
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said David D. Hull, 52, was arrested at an apartment building in central Abbotsford on May 28 after police received a report from a 35-year-old woman that an assault had taken place.
He said the call came in at about 3 a.m., and Hull was arrested 90 minutes later. An assault charge was approved by Crown counsel on May 31.
MacDonald said he could not provide specifics of the incident.
“My caution is not because of who he is, but because of the (alleged) victim,” he said.
Hull has been suspended with pay from his full-time position at the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce until further notice.
Chamber president Patrick Giesbrecht made the announcement in a press release on Sunday, June 5, but did not provide further explanation.
“The reason I’m not at liberty to comment is to protect the integrity of the Chamber of Commerce and the integrity of David D. Hull,” said Giesbrecht.
Hull chose not to comment when contacted by the Abbotsford News.
He’s been with the chamber since May 2005, when he was brought on as executive director – a role created in 2001 to reduce the president’s workload.
The chamber’s website states that Hull’s addition was meant to step up the chamber’s advocacy role in the community.
Since then, Hull has been a strong supporter of the HST and raising the minimum wage.
On May 30, Giesbrecht and Hull represented the Abbotsford chamber at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting in Prince George.
