A sight impaired woman who is new to Edmonton is speaking out, after being denied access to a number of local businesses because she has a guide dog.
Helen McFadyen is blind and relies on her guide dog, Camilla, to lead the way. She says most people see Camilla as her mobility aide but to her, she is so much more.
“She is a companion, and she is a soul mate,” McFadyen says adding, “She has saved my life, already, on a number of occasions and she’s fun to be with.”
McFadyen moved to Edmonton from Halifax in early August.
“Getting acquainted with any city is a challenge, it’s a little more challenging for someone who doesn’t have very good vision.”
McFadyen says for the most part the city has been pretty gracious to her however, she has had a few encounters with Camilla.
“There has been some bumps in the road, in terms of guide dog access.”
Earlier this week, McFadyen went to Chinatown to do some shopping and have lunch. She says the trip quickly took a turn for the worse when she was denied access at several businesses. First, at a local market.
“(There was) immediate resistance from the store clerk and then I spoke to the manager for about 10 minutes to convince them that I had a right to be in the store.”
In the end, McFadyen was escorted through the store to get her groceries and the manger was complimentary of Camilla’s behaviour.
After getting her groceries, McFadyen attempted to go for lunch.
“The first place I went into, I don’t even know where I was, turned me right around, and I sort of dismissed it, saying to myself ‘I don’t need this, i’m going to go’.”
The resistance continued at the second restaurant she tried.
“There was immediately quite a buzz, and someone, i’m not sure if it was a manager, he didn’t identify himself, told me that I had to leave because dogs were not allowed,” she says adding, “I explained this was a registered guide dog, I offered to show my identification, and I explained that there is a law and an act that protects me for that and he just kept harping about health regulations.”
The Executive Director of Dogs with Wings, an organization that trains certified guide dogs, says even though Alberta has legislation in place protecting owners of guide dogs, this is an ongoing problem.
“I probably get a call at least every week, if not 10 days from somebody who has been excluded from a premises here in Edmonton,” says John Wheelwright.
Legislation has been in place in Alberta since 2009, guaranteeing the rights of Albertans with guide or service dogs.
“If you are properly in need of a guide or service dog, and your guide or service dog meets the requirements of the Alberta legislation, then you cannot be excluded from a restaurant, you cannot be excluded from a medical facility, any place where an able bodied person would be able to go,” Wheelwright explains adding, “There is a fine up to a maximum of $3,000 for improperly excluding somebody who is rightfully there with a guide or service dog.”
The legislation goes both ways. Business owners are allowed to refuse service if the guide dog isn’t behaving properly. However, McFadyen says that wasn’t the case.
She says she eventually lost her patience at the second restaurant and called the police. A report has been filed and McFadyen hopes the investigation will help raise awareness for those who are unaware of the legislation.
“It is unfortunate that people don’t understand that the law is there. I don’t necessarily want a big welcome and fanfare when I go into a place, but I don’t want to be turned away.”
With files from Ross Neitz.