'Embarrassing and hurtful': Sask. woman denied service because of 'cultural' facial tattoo
A First Nation woman was denied service at a Prince Albert bar because of her facial tattoo.
Sara Carriere-Burns said she was looking forward to an evening with her cousins at the Prince Albert Brewing Company. She said after she ordered a Diet Coke the manager came to her table and told her she was breaking the dress code. She asked to speak to the owner and told her cousin to record the conversation.
"This is part of my culture," Carriere-Burns said in the video posted to Facebook.
"I don't care. Put makeup on it, cover it up. It’s not allowed in our bar. I don't care what your culture is," another voice replied.
The Prince Albert Brewing Company told CTV News they had no comment.
Its policy posted in the bar says, "Individuals with tattoos from ear to ear, wrapped around the neck, racially offensive and/or gang-related will not be allowed on the premises.”
“Management reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone."
Carriere-Burns said she tried to explain the tattoo, but realized there was no point and left the bar.
"It was very hard to have to get up and walk away and not to speak," she told CTV News in an interview.
She said her tattoo has significant cultural meaning because First Nation women traditionally used it as a form of medicine. It symbolizes her children and almost 10 years of sobriety.
"What got me sober and helps me get through the day-to-day is my children and my culture, and this is my medicine,” she said pointing to her tattoo.
She said she got it a year ago. The outer lines represent the two children she miscarried, the inner lines are for her biological children, and the circles in the middle are for her non-biological children.
She said being turned away for her tattoo was, “embarrassing and hurtful". She is considering filing a human rights complaint.
In a statement to CTV News, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) said, “If a person feels as though they’ve been denied a service regularly offered to the public, and that the denial was due to discriminatory reasons, they can contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to file a complaint.”
The SHRC added, “Businesses and service providers with human rights-related questions are encouraged to call the commission’s business helpline (306) 933-8274. The helpline was created to provide advice for businesses and service providers so they can avoid making mistakes that could result in human rights complaints.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberals unveil plan to make hybrid House of Commons sittings permanent
Government House Leader Mark Holland unveiled Thursday the federal Liberals’ plans to make hybrid sittings in House of Commons a permanent feature.
4 very young children critically wounded in knife attack in French Alpine town
As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed four young children at a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday, assaulting at least one in a stroller repeatedly. The children between 22 months and 3 years old suffered life-threatening injuries, and two adults also were wounded, authorities said.
'Canada dry': Climatologist Dave Phillips foresees hot, dry summer countrywide
The hot, dry conditions that are fuelling wildfires countrywide are just the beginning of what summer could look like in Canada this year, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.
Government policy tells CRTC to exclude social media users from online streaming bill
The federal government is telling Canada's broadcasting regulator to exclude individual social media creators in the regulations to implement the government's new online streaming law.
Wildfire battles continue under heat, air quality alerts over most of Canada
The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal government. The day after what was supposed to be national Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway
Norwegian officials said the smoke from Canadian wildfires that has enveloped parts of the U.S. and Canada in a thick haze is expected to pour into Norway on Thursday.
Trans, non-binary students under 16 in N.B. need parental consent for pronoun changes
New Brunswick students under the age of 16 who identify as trans and non-binary won't be able to officially change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.
Shannen Doherty reveals cancer has spread to her brain
Actress Shannen Doherty is letting her social media followers in on the spread of her breast cancer.
Pat Robertson, U.S. broadcaster who helped make religion central to Republican Party politics, dies at 93
Pat Robertson, a religious broadcaster who turned a tiny Virginia station into the global Christian Broadcasting Network, tried a run for president and helped make religion central to Republican Party politics in America through his Christian Coalition, has died.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon property taxes could see 13 per cent hike as city confronts $75M revenue gap
Significant property tax hikes may be needed to cover a funding shortfall, according to City of Saskatoon administration.
-
Saskatoon builder looking to flip abandoned homes to first time buyers
A Saskatoon man wants to play matchmaker for the unloved homes in the city.
-
Can face masks help protect you from wildfire smoke? Health expert explains
An official recommendation to wear a mask to protect yourself from wildfire smoke is being echoed by health experts as plumes of smoke make their way across parts of Canada, causing poor air quality.
Winnipeg
-
Manitoba trustee suspended over posts targeting LGBTQ2S+ community, division says
A Manitoba school trustee has been suspended over social media posts the division says targeted the LGBTQ2S+ community.
-
'Canada dry': Climatologist Dave Phillips foresees hot, dry summer countrywide
The hot, dry conditions that are fuelling wildfires countrywide are just the beginning of what summer could look like in Canada this year, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.
-
Manitoba businesses at risk of closure over loan repayment
Many businesses go through ups and downs, but the pandemic was a major down that many have yet to recover from.
Calgary
-
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
-
Man on mobility scooter hit by truck in northeast Calgary intersection
Police say a man on a mobility scooter has life-altering injuries after he was struck by a vehicle in a northeast Calgary intersection on Wednesday evening.
-
Council reconsiders decision to reject recommendations on affordability crisis
Calgary city council has reconsidered its decision to vote against recommendations made by an expert panel to address the city’s housing affordability crisis.
Edmonton
-
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
-
1 hospitalized in 156 Street, 118 Avenue crash
One person was hospitalized after a crash in northwest Edmonton on Wednesday.
-
Liberals unveil plan to make hybrid House of Commons sittings permanent
Government House Leader Mark Holland unveiled Thursday the federal Liberals’ plans to make hybrid sittings in House of Commons a permanent feature.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | 1 dead, multiple injured in 8-vehicle crash in Mississauga, Ont.
One person is dead, and at least eight others have been injured, after an multi-vehicle collision in Mississauga, Ont. Thursday morning.
-
Smoke in Toronto to get worse Thursday with air quality set to plummet
Toronto's air quality will get worse before it gets better as smoke from Canada's wildfires lingers in the city.
-
European family turfed from long-term Airbnb in Toronto to test renters’ rights
A European family who says they were evicted from their long-term Airbnb rental in Toronto last week has sparked a precedent-setting fight.
Ottawa
-
Air quality in Ottawa improves briefly, haze expected to return Friday
Smoke and haze from wildfires cleared over Ottawa-Gatineau on Thursday, allowing outdoor recreational programming and activities to resume. Officials warm the smoke and haze could return on Friday afternoon.
-
Year-over-year home sales in Ottawa up 6 per cent in May
The Ottawa Real Estate Board says home sales were up six per cent in May 2023 compared to a year prior, marking the first year-over-year unit sales volume increase since early last year.
-
Ontario to boost early childhood educator wages in bid to ease staff shortage
Ontario is set to increase the wages of early childhood educators in a bid to boost recruitment and retention amid a staff shortage that advocates warn could hamper the growth of the national $10-a-day child-care program.
Vancouver
-
Vancouver Whitecaps celebrate back-to-back Canadian Championship win
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini jumped to chants in front of supporters while players and coaches streamed on to the field at B.C. Place, tearing off their shirts and hugging one another to celebrate a back-to-back Canadian Championship win.
-
'We need to bring people back here': Condo proposal sparks debate in Vancouver's Chinatown
The nondescript parking lot at the centre of debate about the future of Vancouver's historic Chinatown is unchanged in the six years since plans to build a condo tower there were shot down by the city's development permit board.
-
B.C. breweries win big at Canadian Brewing Awards
British Columbia’s beer game continues to pack a punch on the national stage, as breweries from across the province took home nearly four dozen awards at the Canadian Brewing Awards.
Montreal
-
Ontario man charged with first-degree murder in killing of Claudia Iacono outside Montreal salon
An Ontario man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Claudia Iacono, the daughter-in-law of Mafia associate Moreno Gallo, after she was gunned down at the wheel of her car in Montreal last month.
-
These Quebec municipalities should be on alert for rabid raccoons and other wildlife
Quebec Ministry of Environment (MELCCFP) is warning residents south of Montreal to report any animal suspected of having rabies, particularly raccoons.
-
'Canada dry': Climatologist Dave Phillips foresees hot, dry summer countrywide
The hot, dry conditions that are fuelling wildfires countrywide are just the beginning of what summer could look like in Canada this year, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.
Vancouver Island
-
Extended highway closure expected due to wildfire near Port Alberni
There's no end in sight for the closure of Highway 4 on Vancouver Island – the only highway leading to the communities of Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet – due to a wildfire burning in the area.
-
Busload of B.C. students stranded by wildfire spend the night inside Vancouver Island high school
A busload of high school students were finally heading home to Nanaimo on Wednesday after they were stranded by a raging wildfire that forced them to spend the night inside a Port Alberni high school.
-
'For a good cause': Triathlon raising funds for Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre has seen an increase in women, trans and gender-diverse survivors seeking support after experiencing sexualized violence.
Atlantic
-
Trans, non-binary students under 16 in N.B. need parental consent for pronoun changes
New Brunswick students under the age of 16 who identify as trans and non-binary won't be able to officially change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.
-
Halifax to announce Thursday when more residents can return home after wildfires
The Halifax Regional Municipality says it will announce Thursday when more residents can return to their homes in communities impacted by the Tantallon wildfires.
-
Irving Oil weighing its options, including the possible sale of its assets
Irving Oil says it’s undertaking a “strategic review” with an eye to its future. In a release Wednesday, the company says it’s looking at a number of options, including the sale of its assets.
Northern Ontario
-
Wildfire evacuation order west of Sudbury, Ont., expands, highway closed
A wildfire west of Sudbury, Ont., has quadrupled in size prompting evacuation orders to be expanded and one highway to close.
-
Can face masks help protect you from wildfire smoke? Health expert explains
An official recommendation to wear a mask to protect yourself from wildfire smoke is being echoed by health experts as plumes of smoke make their way across parts of Canada, causing poor air quality.
-
Toronto woman 'horrified' after losing $95,000 to romance scam
Romance scams have always been around, but they got worse during the pandemic, and fraudsters continue to use social media and dating sites to find victims.
Kitchener
-
Kitchener air quality to plummet into 'high risk' zone Thursday afternoon
Waterloo region and Wellington County remain under a special air quality statement for the fourth straight day Thursday with pollution levels expected to climb back into Environment Canada’s “high risk” zone this afternoon.
-
Fire near Hwy. 401 caught on camera in Kitchener
A fire near Hwy. 401 in Kitchener caught the eyes of many passing by Wednesday night.
-
Jamal Murray scores 34 points in NBA Finals as Kitchener cheers him on
Kitchener is hosting a series of watch parties to cheer on basketball star Jamal Murray as his Denver Nuggets take on the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.