Indians refused service, Ottawa lounge must pay

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Two Indians who were refused service at an Ottawa lounge were recently awarded $1,500 each by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

In an incident in 1984, Margaret Lanigan and Jim Rossetti were refused drinks at the Syde By Syde Lounge by the bar's manager Reg Leclaire. Leclaire maintained that he had "management discretion."

When the two complainants phoned the owner, John Montgomery, Montgomery sided with Leclaire.

Ed Ratushny, chairman of the commission inquiry, said in a judgement that Lanigan and Rossetti suffered "humiliation, embarrassment, shock and justifiable anger."

The owner of the bar was ordered to pay each complainant $1,000 and the manager was ordered to pay each $500.

"It is disheartening to know that an incident of this nature could occur in Ottawa in 1984," Ratushny said in his judgement.