A popular Regina nightclub is facing backlash after a social media post promoting a 2 for 1 tequila night on Thursday.
The Gabbo’s ad posted on social media featured a poppy field with the words “Lest We Forget” while advertising the club’s tequila night.
Eventually, the nightclub’s Twitter account was taken down and the image was removed from its Facebook page.
One-star reviews of the establishment rocketed to nearly 200 shortly after the advertisement was published.
Canadian veteran Ken Eskdale, who volunteers at the Royal Canadian Legion Regina Branch 001, said he found the poster distasteful and disrespectful.
“It’s almost like organizations are using Remembrance Day for personal gain. That’s not what it’s all about,” he said.
His thoughts were echoed by Terry Duncan, past president of the Legion’s Regina branch.
“Both my grandfathers were in it, I had seven uncles in it, my father was in the Second World War, I lost one uncle. They didn’t do that to sell two-for-one tequilas,” Duncan said.
Gabbo’s nightclub failed to provide a comment on Tuesday after being contacted several times by Global News.
A staff member did appear at the Dewdney Avenue location Tuesday afternoon but quickly declined to comment.
“Don’t even bother coming near me. Go away,” he told the reporter.
Here is a sample of the backlash seen on social media following the advertisement’s posting: