Cloverdale Rodeo accused of discrimination in human rights complaint

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has agreed to hear a complaint against the Cloverdale Rodeo Association and City of Surrey alleging "hostile" conduct by management and a "demeaning" work environment.

The complaint alleges that workers and volunteers particularly women, racialized people and people with disabilities experienced discrimination at the rodeo.

"Cloverdale Rodeo and the City of Surrey upheld a hostile and poisoned work environment by failing to respond to race-based, disability-based, and sex-based harassment and discrimination," the complaint says.

Laura Ballance, the representative complainant and a long-time volunteer and contractor for the rodeo, says the decision to speak up was difficult, but it was the right thing to do.

The group complaint includes all contractors,employees, and volunteers of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association who may haveexperienced, witnessed, or complained about the hostile or demeaning conduct by the rodeo management or the board membersbetween 2012 and July 12, 2021.

"As part of this class complaint, we have asked the tribunal to award remedies that go to address the systemic discrimination," saidRachel Roy, a lawyer withAQR Law who is representing the complainants.

Roy says the complaint seeksa ruling that the rodeo and city breached a section of the Human Rights Code, an end to the alleged breaches, and monetary damages for those who allegedly experienced the discrimination and harassment or who were fired without due cause.

They are also asking for anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for the rodeo's management and board members, including city employees who are appointed to the board.

The Cloverdale Rodeo Association has not responded to CBC's request for comments.

The City of Surrey's legal services department said as this matter is before the tribunal, the city will not be commenting.

The partieshave until April 4to either agree to take part in mediation, or file their responses.

CBC British Columbia has launched a Surreybureau to helptell your stories with reporterKiran Singh. Story ideas and tips can be sent tokiran.singh@cbc.ca.