The mother of a former Drumheller woman who was detained in China expects her daughter will be released before the new year.
National media reported that former Drumheller resident Sarah McIver has been detained and is sentenced to an administrative punishment for illegal employment.
According to Global News McIver is a teacher who had gone to China to teach in August and was detained.
Her mother Maria McIver said this is a normal and routine response from Chinese officials to a mix up in Sarah’s paperwork when she was transferred to another school.
Maria tells the Mail she appreciates all of the support and prayers from friends and the community and requests that family privacy is respected.
“Sarah is doing well and being treated fairly,” she said.
Maria expects Sarah to be released by December 28.
Officials from China and Canada, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have noted that McIver’s detention does not appear to be related to the diplomatic conflict arising from the arrest of Wanzhou Meng, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, in Vancouver on December 1.
MP Kevin Sorenson has been made aware that a Canadian with ties to his riding has been detained.
“Right now we are expecting that our consulate service in China is doing what it can. Sometimes it is better to get all the information first,” said Sorenson.