The owner of Cafe Bean in Perth, Ont., had to endure the brunt of an angry customer last week, when Ontario’s new proof of vaccination policy came into force.
Gayna Martynuik says Cafe Bean has two signs upon entry that request the public’s proof of vaccination. She says the customer entered the coffee shop with a mask on initially, saying he was fully vaccinated. After Martynuik asked to see proof that he was, the customer refused.
That’s when Martynuik says her “blood pressure started to rise”.
The customer, a man who has not been identified, left and returned into the shop without a mask, showing Martynuik his phone claiming she is infringing on his rights and that she had to serve him.
“I can refuse service to anyone at my establishment,” says Martynuik.
“I was trying to hold in my temper. In the service industry you don’t want to go off on people, and I’ve been working 14-hour days. I just didn’t want to take it. I just didn’t have the patience for it.”
The customer proceeded to yell at her, saying, “You are the problem with this country.”
Martynuik says another customer came into the cafe shortly after and also refused to show their proof of vaccination, but didn’t cause a disruption.
“I’ve been losing business because people are vaccinated and don’t want to comply with the rules and show me, or they just aren’t vaccinated.”
Martynuik continued to say, she is confused with the rules and whether or not it is even necessary at her business.
“I dont think the information is really clear in the public,” she says.
Gayna Martnuik is hoping that in coming months, the rules and regulations surrounding the policy will be clarified so that situations like this are avoided.