Dianne Watts, the mayor of British Columbia's second largest city, seen here on Nov. 4, 2010, was recovering in hospital with two fractured vertebrae Sunday following a weekend horseback riding accident.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
The mayor of British Columbia's second-largest city was recovering in hospital with two fractured vertebrae Sunday following a weekend horseback riding accident.
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts was vacationing with her husband and two daughters at a friend's cabin near Kamloops when she was thrown from a horse Saturday, said Laura Ballance, spokesperson for the mayor.
Ms. Ballance said the mayor was taken to Kamloops's Royal Inland Hospital, added she had spoken to Ms. Watts Sunday and that she was coherent but in a lot of pain. Medical staff said she was in stable condition, according to Ms. Ballance.
"We know that she has two fractured vertebrae."
Ms. Ballance said she doesn't know how long Ms. Watts could be off work because the mayor is waiting for the results of medical tests.
Councillor Marvin Hunt, the city's acting mayor for July, said Ms. Watts may also be awaiting the results of a MRI.
Mr. Hunt said the accident comes just days before the city breaks for the summer.
Ms. Watts is one of the province's most high-profile mayors. In November, 2010, Ms. Watts announced she would not seek former premier Gordon Campbell's job as head of the B.C. Liberals and leader of the province.
Ms. Watts said at the time she still had work to do in Surrey and wanted to remain focused on her family.