One Woman Takes a Stand for Justice
After Being Evicted For Not Being Asian
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - Sometimes, it only takes one person to stand up in protest to make a difference against an injustice. This is the hard lesson a local businesswoman is learning after she learned that her business is about to be displaced to make way for another nationality.
Liverpool-born Rose Farrell is the owner and operator of Colour Tech II Hair Studio. She has been in operation for the past 10 years at West Willow Mall in Langley. Rose has a very loyal clientele and she's an excellent hairdresser who loves her work and her customers.
But all of that is about to change for Rose Farrell and other business owners in the mall which is adjacent to the larger Willowbrook Mall on the Fraser Highway. H-Mart, a large Korean grocery chain, has bought the mall and told the established businesses that they will not be renewing their leases.
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| ROSE FARRELL |
In fact, the existing stores will be taken over by Korean businesses, catering to Korean customers in the area, and employing Korean speaking workers. Job postings for the grocery store were written in Korean only.
When Farrell first heard that other tenants had received notice, she sought confirmation on her own lease. "They weren't going to tell me," said Rose. "It was only after a lot of phone calls, they finally told me." The answer was no renewal.
"This is Canada for God's sake," said an exasperated Rose, "you can't do this to people." But it is happening, and Rose was further incensed when she learned that prior to her even receiving notice, a Korean-Canadian hairdresser was poised to move into her shop.
Farrell said, "What really made me angry about this whole thing was that they could just take my shop off me before they even gave me an eviction notice. I just think that was so underhanded."
Peter Pook, who also owns a store in the mall said, "We weren't getting our leases renewed because we were white. We were denied a lease based on race and ethnicity. I understand that a landlord can do what it wants, but as soon as they start deciding who to hire or lease to based on race, that's where the problem lies. What they're saying is that Caucasians are incapable of catering to Asians customers."
Rose Farrell, along with two other businesses in the mall, has filed a complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Commission. The commission must now decide if it will hear the complaint. The case has provoked a predictable outcry. Newspapers have called the move by H-Mart "morally and ethically repugnant."
Mike Farnsworth, the New Democratic Party's Solicitor-General critic said, "Clearly there seems to be some kind of discrimination taking place. I think the Attorney-General needs to look into this to see if people have been treated fairly. We're a multi-cultural society that is supposed to be building bridges, not walls. This runs against the grain of what our society is about."
Rose faces a major expense to re-establish the Colour Tech II Hair Studio and Spa at a new location. Just last year, she installed the spa area at cost of $7,000, and she estimates the cost of moving and setting up shop at a new location will be approximately $45,000.
Her lease expires on February 28, 2007, and she is currently negotiating for a site in the Valley Centre Mall in Langley City which is anchored by Price Mart Foods (Save-On).
Another significant concern is that she isn't certain if the remaining months on her lease will be enough time for the tradespeople to finish their work. There is a real possibility of losing not only customers but also staff due to any delays.
Farrell explained that one of the reasons that her husband Brian and the family chose to come to Canada was because it was a multi-cultural country. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that she would become the victim of discrimination or that she would be compelled to file a complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal.
Her case has attracted the attention of the media and before she had even filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal, she was interviewed on a local radio talk show. Since then she has been inundated by all the major television, radio and newspapers, all wanting to speak to her about the case.
"Really, the response from my customers and the area residents has been just unbelievable. I can't believe the way people have just rallied around us," said Rose. "People have come into the shop and asked how could they help - could they sign a petition or put up a website.
"Other people have offered to paint the new shop. One man called and said that he would move all my chairs for free. And, so many people have told me that I'm an inspiration to them for coming forward."
In order to change anything, including laws, you must have passion and determination. Often the stand doesn't even benefit the person who fights for the changes, but it will benefit others in future who may be facing the same problems.
In speaking with Rose Farrell I was reminded of two other passionate and determined women, Erin Brockovich and Karen Silkwood. Both of these women took on huge corporations to elicit change and both of their stories have been chronicles on film.
Ultimately, the final decision will rest with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. It will have to rule in this case of reverse discrimination on whether commercial landlords have the right to choose tenants based on race if they feel it's in the best interest of their business. Either way, it will be a landmark ruling and will bring about change.
Colour Tech II Hair Studio is located at 19569 Fraser Highway, West Willow Centre in Langley, B.C. (until February 28). For more information, call (604) 533-4441.
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