Bible Hill woman subjected to racist remarks wants businesses to do more

A woman who lives in Bible Hill, N.S., says she's tired of hearingracist remarks from customers at a local Tim Hortons andfrustrated that more isn't being done to ensure the area's businesses are welcoming and safe.

Levina Austin was in line at the Tim Hortons on Inglis Place in Truro on Dec. 2 when she saystwo white men commented that her "presencemakes themfeel that they're livingin downtown Toronto and theyshould be carrying a gun."

Austin told CBC's Information Morningthat two other people of colour were also in line and that the commentwasloud enough for them to hear.

It's not the first time she's heard customers at Tim Hortons make racist comments.

"Being brown is definitely a burden in a small, mostly white rural town," Austin said, adding that she's never heard those comments from staff.

"I have been pointed out for being a woman of colour and I've been called a border jumper at that Tim Hortons by someone sitting in the restaurant."

Austin filed acomplaint with the Truro Police Service and is planning to meet with the chief of police on Friday about the intimidation and harassment she says she regularly faces.

"Being harassed and verbally intimidated in public spaces, it's definitely exhausting,"she said.

Sadness, disbelief, fear

Austin said the encounter earlier this month left her feeling "shock, sadness, disbelief, fear, anger."

"The places of business with the privilege and the power have the responsibility to make it a safe place for everyone and so we can't sweep the issues under the carpet any longer. We have to talk about it," she said.

Austin left messages with both the local Tim Hortonsand the company's head office. She said she wasn't able to speak with anyone, but that a police officerfollowed up with the restaurant's manager.

"The Tim Horton's manager asked why I didn't stay and have a conversation with the manager about it," she said. "When you're in asituation where you're definitely feeling intimidated and harassed, theonly thing you want to do is leave."

A spokesperson for Tim Horton's head office said in an email that the owner of the franchisehas been informed of Austin'scomplaint and that they've contacted her to apologize for "our lack of communication."

"At Tim Hortons, we strive to provide a welcoming environment for all guests and we do not tolerate racist or harassing words or actions of any kind," the statement said.

"We regret the experience this guest had and we have asked the restaurant owner to ensure team members remain diligent in addressing any offensive behaviour witnessed inside our restaurants."

Chief says Truro is 'very welcoming'

Dave MacNeil, chief of the Truro Police Service, said that these types of complaints are not common in Truro.

"Truro is a very welcoming community with a diverse population," MacNeilsaid inan email.

However, the town has recently acknowledged it needs toimprove its relationship with black residents.

This fall,council committed to creating a special committeeto better address concerns from the black community after three women who were admiring deer were stopped and questionedby police.

Austin moved to Bible Hillfrom Toronto five years agoand admitsliving in a rural townis hard. But she doesn't regret her choice to live there.

"This is where I'm raising my beautiful family and I want to live, work and be successful here, and I would like to be able to be free of intimidation and harassment and not to be treated differently because of my skin colour," she said.