Farm Boy — Restaurant in Ottawa

As a conscientious consumer and legal professional, I am compelled to issue this formal critique of Farm Boy, Ottawa, on account of deeply troubling and ostensibly unlawful hiring practices observed during my repeated visits to the establishment. My observations lead to a legitimate concern that employment decisions are being made on the basis of national origin, specifically favouring individuals exclusively from India, to the exclusion of all other eligible candidates. Such a practice, if verified, constitutes a prima facie violation of both Canadian anti-discrimination statutes and international human rights norms.

The complete absence of linguistic proficiency in the English language among a significant number of frontline staff is particularly disconcerting. Communication with customers — especially in a predominantly Anglophone region — is not merely a courtesy but an operational necessity. The incapacity of employees to engage in even rudimentary English dialogue compromises not only service standards but raises significant occupational health and safety concerns. This is compounded by the manifest absence of diversity in the workforce, which lends credence to the inference that the hiring process may be tainted by systematic discrimination.

Should these allegations be substantiated, such conduct would likely contravene the Canadian Human Rights Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6, particularly sections 3(1) and 7, which prohibit differential treatment in employment on grounds including race, national or ethnic origin, and language. Furthermore, it may infringe upon section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees equality before and under the law without discrimination.

I must unequivocally assert that, unless and until Farm Boy rectifies these employment practices and undertakes to implement a recruitment process that adheres to principles of fairness, equality, and linguistic competence, I shall refrain from patronising any of its locations. I also reserve the right to raise this matter formally with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and relevant regulatory bodies tasked with enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

This statement serves not merely as a personal declaration of boycott, but as a call for institutional introspection and immediate remedial action. A retail establishment operating within Canadian jurisdiction must comply with the legal and ethical standards requisite of a...

I'm becoming an Ottawa citizen coming this October... Hence decided to take upon myself to discovering my new city one step at a time.

I know we're still grappling with the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic and now that the Δ [Delta] variant is out and about, more than ever we need to take care of each other, I'm a big believer that by getting vaccinated, I already had two jabs ✌🏼, wearing masks and socially distancing we'll make it through in due time.

Well dovetailing to Farm Boy, it was a wonderful experience, from the presentation and decor at the store, the wide well ventilated spaces and protective panels to the quality of the produce on every single section to the careful, friendly and attentive demeanor of the staff, this was hands down one of the best grocery shopping experiences that I've had in a very long time.

Got myself some berries, water, cider, cheese and salad for a nice very Canadian dinner, why? Because gleefully, they carry local and Canadian producers 🇨🇦 and trying not to be biased here, but every single product that I had was amazing, flavorful, fresh and rich. Eating local does pay on quality.

The store was busy, clean and people were happy and very respectful of each other's distance, I can say that this is the first grocery shopping experience that I've truly enjoyed in over 20 months, didn't get to suffer anxiety from people that refuses to social distance or that charges like a mindless buffalo down the isle.

I'd highly recommend doing grocery shopping at Farm Boy, great experience all-in-all while supporting our Canadian producers with high quality...

Dear Management Team at Farm Boy, I am a Canadian citizen writing to express deep concern regarding the sale of dates imported by NBF and Hadiklaim products under their King of Solomon label at your stores. These products are manufactured on lands unlawfully seized from Palestinians, constituting a gross violation of international law and human rights principles. If Farm Boy profits from the sale of these illegally harvested products, your company will be implicated in perpetuating the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity faced by Palestinians. Such exploitation of stolen land for commercial gain undermines the rights of the Palestinian people and also contributes to the perpetuation of apartheid conditions in the region. I urge Farm Boy to take immediate and decisive action by removing all apartheid Medjool dates and related products from your shelves, along with any other produce sourced from similar unlawful practices. Please take an ethical stance and commit to halting the sale of internationally illegal products grown on stolen land. Please be advised that my family, along with my network of friends and supporters, will refrain from patronizing Farm Boy stores until you cease the sale of these apartheid products. We stand in solidarity with Palestinians, including any community whose rights have been systematically violated and exploited. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter and for your anticipated cooperation in rectifying this grave injustice. We trust that Farm Boy will align its practices with ethical and...