I have had many positive experiences at this Pet Valu and have become a regular customer and familiar face since moving to Thunder Bay at the beginning of the pandemic. Unfortunately, my initial experiences shopping here were highly unpleasant and the way I was treated by employees was unacceptable.
To elaborate, on several occasions, I have not only had employees watch my every move in this store, I have been physically followed and crowded with incessant asking “how can I help you”s and “is there something I can help you find”s. These instances were excruciatingly uncomfortable for me to the point that I rushed pay and get out, having proved that I was, in fact, a paying customer and not a thief.
I have never in my life felt like I could not shop in peace in the way that I have since coming to Thunder Bay at the beginning of the pandemic. This Pet Valu is not the only store that has made me feel this way. I am a person of colour and suspect that, especially with a mask on, I might pass for indigenous. I am confident that I have been profiled in this store and ask that store owners and managers reflect hard on their shortcomings when it comes to educating employees on proper conduct. Better yet, I hope those in charge of employment will begin to actively seek BIPOC employees and work towards diversifying their teams and breaking down barriers in the pet industry.