Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks at a rally at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley

By Troy Gillard

Sticker shock fallout

Sexually explicit “Greta” sticker does not warrant charges: RCMP

Feb 28, 2020 | 12:36 PM

There will be no criminal charges coming for a local oil and gas services company linked to a decal that caused outrage when images of it were posted to social media this week.

The sticker shows a black-and-white drawing of a female figure’s bare back with hands pulling on her braided pigtails. The name “Greta” is written below in reference to teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. Under the drawing is the logo of X-Site Energy Services.

The Red Deer RCMP General Investigative Section (GIS) says it has completed its investigation into the decal and that no charges will be forthcoming.

“In consultation with police officers whose expertise includes the sexual exploitation of children, Red Deer RCMP determined that the decal does not meet the elements of child pornography. Nor does the decal depict a non-consensual act that would be a direct threat to the person,” a media release says.

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The decal came to light after Rocky Mountain House Town Councillor Michelle Narang posted an image of it to Facebook Wednesday evening.

Narang posted the image after speaking over the phone with Doug Sparrow, General Manager for X-Site Energy Services.

“He indicated that it was his company campaign which he was quite supportive of,” she told rdnewsNOW. “Doug responded ‘Well, she’s not a child, she’s 17, and that’s not really what we meant anyway.’

When contacted by rdnewsNOW Thursday morning, Sparrow denied he or anyone with his company had anything to do with the decal.

Alberta’s minister for the status of women, Leela Aheer, called the graphic “completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading.”

“This is not what our province stands for. Whoever is responsible should be ashamed and apologize immediately. I stand with Albertans against this horrendous image,” she wrote on Twitter.

Premier Jason Kenney tweeted in response: “Thank-you for denouncing this odious image and the message it sends.”

Patricia Arango, executive director at the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASS), says the decal is unacceptable.

“This is completely the reason why we’re here, and we have to work and create a culture of respect,” exclaims Arango. “It’s lack of respect. I’m sad and I’m frustrated and it’s not O.K. that that’s happened.”

Arango says the incident is another reminder of how important it is to respect other people’s opinions.

“I hope that people can think before they do something like that or publish something and cause a massive effect,” adds Arango. “I don’t know if other women feel the same as I did, but I believe that as soon as you see the picture, you feel something is totally wrong there.”

(With file from The Canadian Press)