A former Drumheller woman has returned to Canada after being detained in China this month.
National media reported that former Drumheller resident Sarah McIver was detained and sentenced to an administrative punishment for illegal employment.
McIver is a teacher who had gone to China to teach in August and was detained.
Her mother Maria McIver of Drumheller previously told the Mail, her detention was 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 the support and prayers from friends and the community and requests that family privacy is respected.
“Sarah is doing well and being treated fairly,” Maria said at the time of Sarah's detention.
CBC reported on Friday, December 28 that McIver returned to Canada, but for privacy reasons no further information was disclosed.
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 was aware 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,” Sorenson told the Mail at the time.
