Calgary workers wearing masks face backlash from “freedom” rally

Choosing to wear a mask at work is bringing some Calgary workers unwanted criticism from so called “freedom” protestors.

Although government mandated mask wearing has long been lifted, some businesses and individuals still choose to mask up.

“I have three staff members who choose to wear masks at this location, but that’s their choice, and that’s their right,” said Nancy Goemans, co-owner and founder of Pie Junkie and Bakery.

A planned rally for Friday in the Kensington/Sunnyside area, references the Calgary bakery Pie Junkie and their staff wearing masks. Messages on the social media platform Telegram, shared on Twitter, suggest rally goers will protest the bakery during the planned march.

Hey @piejunkieyyc your Kensington/Sunnyside location is being targeted for harassment this week by the same folks who have nothing to do all week but carry silly “freedom” signs & harass various #yyc neighbourhoods.

Stay safe!#CommunitySafetyYYC pic.twitter.com/D6Rto4ZENJ

— Aunt E Phở ????⬛️ (@JaneQCitizen) August 8, 2022

“The tweets were more than upsetting because it’s so hard for small business right now and between increasing food prices and chains of supply and we’ve had COVID for how long, and we have staff out every week with COVID, and then now to have this,” Goemans said.

One staff member in the crosshairs is reluctant to talk about their decision to mask up, feeling frightened by the situation.

“These are, you know, people working their best to put food on the table and they don’t deserve to be harassed, and this business or any business doesn’t deserve to be harassed quite frankly,” Goemans said.