ICBC issues 39 tickets to Elite Driver Training School owner as both allege training issues

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) has issued 39 violation tickets to a former driving examiner for allegedly teaching without a licence in Fort St. John. 

Greg Harper, media relations advisor for ICBC, confirmed designated enforcement officers have issued tickets to David Rowsell for multiple alleged violations of the Motor Vehicle Act regulations – 37 in December and two in October.

Rowsell, a former ICBC driving examiner who owns Elite Driver Training School, has, in turn, accused ICBC of corruption and irregularities within its driver training system in Fort St. John. 

A post on Elite Driver Training School’s Facebook page, Rowsell alleges “another driving training school has been involved in giving inadequate driver training to new students by just teaching them the bare basics,” before colluding with ICBC to obtain licences. He accused ICBC of “giving the students of this school short 10-15 minute test, and passing them with very few failures.”

It reads: “I am continuing to train new drivers in an unmarked vehicle as ICBC has forced me to remove my business decals from my training vehicle. ICBC also suspended my driving school licence and instructor licence.

“My vehicle is banned from being allowed to be used for road test by new drivers by the examiners and ICBC. It meets and exceeds all safety standards and is only being done in retaliation to my speaking up on the ICBC examiner/driving school collusion I have reported.

“Justice must be served and I will continue to take a stand against this corruption in the driver training industry until it is remedied.”

He told Energeticcity.ca: “I’m penalized for speaking up and telling the truth.” 

Rowsell did not provide Energeticcity.ca with evidence to corroborate his allegations because they are the subject of legal investigations, he said. 

All this comes after ICBC suspended all road tests in Fort St. John indefinitely in early December. 

Harper from ICBC confirmed to Energeticcity.ca that over 236 road tests were cancelled in the city. 

Harper said at the time that the cancellations come due to “an ongoing police matter involving criminal harassment” by an individual unaffiliated with ICBC. 

On December 1st, a post was uploaded to Elite Driver Training School’s Facebook page. The post included pictures of an alleged correspondence from Jason McDaniel, interim president and CEO of ICBC. 

The correspondence is addressed to Rowsell and uses the ICBC letterhead, asking Rowsell to cease his allegations against ICBC, but Energeticcity.ca has been unable to independently verify the letter.

However, Rowsell has been charged with two counts of criminal harassment and three counts of fear of injury or damage to person or property. His next court date is scheduled for January 2026.

Rowsell uploaded Facebook reels to his school’s Facebook page showing he and his wife being approached by two individuals at Walmart and two individuals outside his address. 

On his page, Rowsell accuses ICBC of stalking and harassment. 

ICBC’s Harper told Energeticcity.ca the officers are approaching Rowsell in the community because they are attempting to serve him the violation tickets in person. 

“As a matter of law, the violation tickets must be served in person by an enforcement officer,” Harper said.  

“Neither Mr Rowsell nor Elite Driver Training School hold a driver training school licence, which means they are not permitted to operate or advertise themselves as a driving school in British Columbia.

“All driving schools in B.C. must be licensed by ICBC and must follow the driving school Code of Conduct to legally provide instruction.” 

Harper added ICBC is working with the police and local partners to resolve the situation in Fort St. John as quickly as possible. 

Energeticcity.ca reached out to Rowsell for comment about the 39 tickets but did not immediately hear back.