No Backpacks Rule in Rogers Video Discriminates Against Young People

Section one of the Ontario Human Rights Code provides that every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination based on age. However, young people are often not treated equally when it comes how youth are treated in public and semi-public spaces.





We are very insulted by how young people are treated in your stores. The sign in these stores indicates that Bags and knapsacks are to be left at the counter. However, this rule is only enforced/applied by Rogers staff persons with young customers and therefore adults are permitted to carry their purses or bags while young people have to leave their bags at the counter.





This treatment contradicts the friendly position you report on your website where you explain that Rogers is committed to supporting communities and that they are working to offer positive childhood experiences to kids across Canada.





We believe the reason why we are asked to leave our backpacks at the door is because of stereotypes about youth that they all steal. Treating young people based on stereotypes is not right. We demand that you communicate with these stores and clearly outline that you will not tolerate young people (or another group protected by the Human Rights Code) being treated discriminatorily in your stores. Despite firmly held perceptions to the contrary, only a very small fraction of youth commit crime and even fewer are involved in the commission of violent crime.