A woman who was racially profiled while shopping at a Sobeys store in Tantallon, N.S. seven years ago will receive $21,000 from the company.
Marion Hill, the board chair of the independent human rights board of inquiry in the matter, ruled in October that Andrella David had been discriminated against on the basis of her race when wrongfully accused of shoplifting by a Sobeys employee.
David was shopping at the store on May 26, 2009 when she was stopped at the checkout by an employee who accused her of being a repeat shoplifter.
The employee told her the store’s surveillance camera had captured her shoplifting before, that she was being watched, and that the company would press charges if it happened again.
However, Hill ruled there was no indication David had attempted to shoplift, and agreed she had been discriminated against.
She issued her decision on remedy late Thursday, ordering Sobeys Group Inc. to issue a written apology to David for its discriminatory treatment.
The company must pay David $21,000 in general damages, plus 2.55 per cent interest from 2009.
Sobeys must also participate in training approved by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission with respect to consumer racial profiling, discrimination based on race, colour, and perceived source of income.
