'Everybody has the opportunity to be educated': Country Club pulls picture after public backlash
The Glendale Golf and Country Club has apologized for reposting a picture of a foursome who wore shirts at a golf tournament that read "Drunk Wives Matter," in reference to the Black Lives Matter slogan.
The picture of four unknown women wearing the matching shirts was temporarily shared on the club's Instagram, sparking criticism from the public. While the picture was taken down, it’s been shared widely.
“Why they thought this was a good idea is beyond me,” Farha Shariff, an educator, told CTV News Edmonton.
“Mocking an entire Black activist movement post George Floyd is inherently racist, period.”
“It was a thoughtless post that has been rightfully brought to our attention by many community members,” a statement from the Glendale Golf and Country Club read. “We take full responsibility for this mistake and will use this opportunity to reflect on our actions.”
Shariff told CTV News the problem with the post is there were a number of missed steps.
“There were many opportunities for someone to say something,” she explained.
“Most people are not inclined to act on what they see and that’s how we perpetuate racism.”
(Credit: Alexis Patricia, Facebook)
The club called the situation a teachable moment for staff and members.
However, Shariff said the apology was “weak” and lacks a specific educational plan for them to move forward with.
“I encouraged people that follow me to contact the Glendale and ask, ‘how are they learning? What are they doing?’”
“Everybody has the opportunity to be educated,” she added.
(Courtesy: Farha Shariff)
Shariff said the community wants the club to be held accountable for their actions and a few ways to do that is by issuing a “heartfelt” apology with specifics, such as offering support to the racialized community, supporting local Black-owned businesses and donating to organizations that are working towards addressing and correcting racism.
“When you post something on social media and share it, that’s reflective of the brand and the club,” Shariff added.
In a private Instagram post on Wednesday, one of the women in the photo, Chelsie Hutchinson, issued an apology, saying she was disappointed in herself and her actions.
“I promise to do better and have already taken steps to educate myself and my family,” the post read. “Being held accountable is important for me to grow, learn and become a better person for my community and my children.”
In the post, Hutchinson said she reached out to Shariff to engage a diversity expert for herself and her family.
“I know this is only the first step and I have a long way to go but I am committed to real change,” she said.
'IT WAS A MASSIVE LAPSE OF JUDGEMENT'
On Wednesday, CTV News received a statement from Greg McGarry, the general manager at the Glendale Golf and Country Club.
“Let me be very clear,” his statement read. “This was not just a massive lapse of judgement by certain employees, it was a massive lapse of judgement by everyone involved in this regrettable incident.”
According to McGarry, he has ordered all staff to undergo gender bias, diversity and equity training by no later than Sept. 15 “if they wish to remain employees of the Glendale.”
“We are going to rework our HR policies to ensure that new employees hired going forward are also required to undergo this training,” he said.
McGarry noted the club is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and will update the community and their membership once it is completed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.