P.A. woman calls for change after being denied service due to tattoo

A Prince Albert woman says she is filing a human rights complaint after she was asked to leave a local restaurant because of her facial tattoo.

Sara Carriere-Burns said she recently visited the Prince Albert Brewing Company (PABCO) with some of her cousins. After ordering a drink and wings, she said a manager came by to inform them they had to leave because of the tattoo on her chin.

This sign greets visitors at the main entrance. (paNOW Staff)

“It’s a part of my culture,” said Burns, saying she tried to explain that to the manager and, eventually, the owner.

“I thought maybe we could converse about my tattoo and how it’s a part of my culture, but I just knew at that point (with) his tone, he was not at a place to have a healthy communication so we decided to leave it and just leave,” she added.

In an interview with paNOW, Carriere-Burns explained that the tattoo across the middle of her chin represents her biological children, those she lost in pregnancy, and those she cared for while being a foster parent.

paNOW spoke with management on Monday, who stood by their decision.

They explained the blanket policy, posted by the front door, has been in place for a few years, and they cannot make exceptions for one facial tattoo over another. They reiterated that someone with a facial tattoo is more than welcome to come in, so long as the tattoo is covered.

paNOW also reached out to other similar businesses in the area, and could not find another example of the policy.

One manager said they have no plans to enforce such a policy, but also added the clientele at their business is different than the one visiting PABCO.

Another manager explained the only condition by which someone would be escorted out as if they were being disorderly, but added they try not to let a situation get to that point.

The same manager also explained they don’t judge someone based on appearance, but acknowledged some businesses are intimidated by someone with a teardrop or similar facial tattoo, as those markings are associated with gangs.

While the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission could not comment on the specific incident, they did provide a statement:

“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 alleged facts surrounding a complaint are key in determining whether the Commission can formalize and investigate that complaint.”

Meanwhile, Carriere-Burns hopes the same situation doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“It was so embarrassing. People just stared and nobody said anything. It was just allowed. Culture and traditions are supposed to be protected by human rights, and that was just taken.”