This store discriminates against people with disabilities. Because I have a valid health exemption and get tired of confrontations while I am shopping, I peeked my head in the door on Saturday, April 17th, 2021 to ask if this would be a problem. The woman I spoke with asked me if I could not just wear one of those blue masks. I said AGAIN that I had a health exemption. She said she could only offer me curbside pickup and that someone would go in to the store to pick out what I want and asked me what I was shopping for. This is discrimination based on my exemption because I cannot wear a mask and is illegal. I pointed out that other people who were wearing masks were allowed to shop in the store and that I wanted to look in the store and see for myself. (If I'm looking for grass seed, I want to pick out what size as well as compare prices for what they have available) She told me I could not go in the store because I would not wear a mask and denied me the same service of others who were in the store wearing masks. I told her the treatment she just gave me was illegal and humiliating but there was clearly no reasoning with the woman. I left because there were other customers listening to the conversation and I was very embarrassed by her treatment of me.
I went home and was quite upset. It seemed to me, the store was unaware of what exactly the 'Temporary Mandatory Mask By-Law' stated, so I called to complain to the Manager and enlighten him on the discrimination his employees were giving to people who have health exemptions. When I called the store, the Manager was unavailable but the woman who answered the phone took my number and asked why I was calling. I explained to her my rights were violated and I have every right to file a 'Human Rights Complaint' if I wanted too but instead just wanted to enlighten the Manager on the law. The manager did call me back and asked me what I wanted (I had given a detailed message ~was it really necessary to ask me?) He then proceeded to berate me and tell me he as well as all his employees were well aware of the the by-law regarding health exemptions were and proceeded to argue with me stating that it is not essential for me to go into the store and look around for what I wanted and continued to lecture me on the new measures implemented recently by Rob Ford. He did not care one iota that I was offended because my rights were violated and I was treated in an undignified manner. I explained to him my daughter has a health exemption too, and has two children under the age of ten. When she wears a mask or face shield she is prone to incapacitating migraines and that for me to play the game is not going to help the situation for her, myself and others who have valid health exemptions, to enter stores without being bullied, harassed and scrutinized. We got off the phone and I received little to no satisfaction about the way I was treated.
The next day, I find out from a friend that she happened to go into this store on the exact same day I was lectured by this manager about Rob Ford's new guidelines. Turns out this manager who scolded me about how I was not honoring Rob Ford's new guidelines regarding essential services by not staying at home, is selling UNessential products. Not only does he have no respect for his customers but he is also a hypocrite.