Clothing store apologizes after incident with woman and her service dog in Sudbury
A Sudbury woman says she was discriminated against after bringing her service dog into a clothing store.
Victoria Chellew was looking to buy a new pair of shoes at Ardene, when she said she was confronted by a store manager who said she needed permission.
Chellew has had a service dog for years to help with anxiety. She was trying on shoes when a manager told her that the next time she comes in, she has to check with her first.
"To me I was kind of shocked when she did that because I've never had someone do that before," Chellew said. "She was just kind of extremely rude about it and my friend was shocked, too."
An upset Chellew left the store without buying anything.
Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, a service dog must be identifiable with a vest and a handler can be asked for documentation.
Don't have to ask for permission
But asking for permission is something entirely different.
"People need to understand that it's not always my choice to have a dog there to help me," Chellew said.
Paralympian Victoria Nolan said Chellew's experience is part of a bigger issue. Nolan has even encountered these problems herself with her guide dog, Alan.
"I don't understand what the missing piece is here, how people don't know that it is the law that a person with a guide dog can go anywhere the general public can go," Nolan said.
Rob Dimeglio, of Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin, said the situation is disappointing but he hopes this will serve as an educational opportunity.
"Government has to give us … government issued ID for service animals -- that would be my wish, so store owners would be able to receive a government-issued ID for the service animal," Dimeglio said.
Ardene has apologized for this incident, sending a statement to CTV.
"Not only do we respect the rights of our customers, but we also believe that fashion should be inclusive and welcoming to all. Our customer service team is in the process of reaching out to Ms. Chellew directly for a formal apology. In addition, we have launched an internal investigation and will take appropriate action to ensure incidents like these do not happen again in the future."
For her part, Chellew said all she wants is for people to be aware that these dogs are here for a reason.
"And I just hope that next time they ensure that all members of staff that are in charge … know what's right and wrong to prevent mistakes like this from happening in the future," she said.
There are several types of dogs that can work to meet a persons physical or emotional needs. The CNIB said Ontario is one of only five Canadian jurisdictions where a disabled individual can call police if they feel they are being denied access.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.