A Cold Lake business owner is urging city council to review the community’s free transit system after he and his wife were allegedly assaulted by an intoxicated individual near the Marina bus stop earlier this month.

Speaking during Public Question Period at Cold Lake City Council’s June 9 meeting, Lakeshore Optometry owner Dr. Blake Dornstauder recounted an incident that occurred on June 3 outside his clinic near the Marina.

According to Dornstauder, an intoxicated woman removed flowers from planters outside the business before crossing the street to wait at the bus stop. When his wife and co-worker attempted to photograph the individual to report the vandalism, the situation escalated.

Dornstauder told council the woman allegedly threw dirt and flowers before attacking his wife from behind.

“I was able to get her to the ground to release Natalie, but during the process, she pulled out a bunch of Natalie’s hair and bit my arm, drawing blood,” he said.

The woman was later arrested by RCMP and charged with two counts of assault, including one count involving bodily harm, according to Dornstauder.

The optometrist said he spent several days awaiting medical results following the bite and expressed concern about the potential health consequences.

“As a health care professional, if that bite wasn’t clean, it could have ended my career and all the work I put into becoming an optometrist,” he told council.

Concerns extend beyond one incident

While Dornstauder acknowledged he supports keeping Cold Lake’s transit system free, he argued the city should examine whether changes are needed to improve safety for riders, businesses and nearby residents.

He said business owners near the Marina bus stop regularly witness public intoxication and disruptive behaviour.

Dornstauder cited several examples, including vandalism, harassment of children walking home from school and reports of individuals carrying bear spray while using transit.

“The whole reason I’m here is a call to action,” he said. “The Cold Lake busing system is a serious problem and all of you sitting on council are in a position to do something about this before someone gets a life-altering injury or even murdered.”

Among the ideas he suggested was a transit identification system that would require riders to register for free access to transit.

Council agrees to revisit discussion

Mayor Bob Mattice offered condolences to Dornstauder and his family and thanked him for bringing the issue forward.

“On behalf of the city and the council that are at the table here, I offer a sincere apology to both of you through what you’ve went through recently and what you’ve endured,” said Mattice.

The mayor noted council has been advocating for justice system reforms, including bail reform, while acknowledging that many of the broader issues raised fall outside municipal jurisdiction.

Councillors discussed both the benefits and challenges of changing the transit system.

Coun. Ryan Bailey cautioned that any restrictions on transit access would require careful review, including potential human rights implications.

At the same time, several councillors acknowledged community concerns surrounding public safety and agreed the issue warrants further examination.

Council ultimately directed administration to bring the matter forward for discussion at a future Corporate Priorities Committee meeting, where members will explore possible options and gather additional information before considering any changes.

No decisions regarding the transit system were made during the June 9 meeting.