Whitehorse pizzeria apologizes for sexist Facebook post

A Whitehorse pizzeria ignited controversy Wednesday after posting on its Facebook page that it would prefer not to hire women to work in the kitchen.

Tony's Pizza posted that it was looking to hire a pizza chef. When a Whitehorse woman wrote that she had applied for the job and never heard back, the ownerresponded, "I would prefer to have a male in the kitchen, less distraction for the other male employees."

Facebook users instantly flooded the page with angry comments, accusing the restaurant of sexism and discrimination. The post was shared widely, drawing further criticism and pledges of boycotts.

"Sexist, and discriminatory," wrote one user. "What year do you think this is?"

"I am boycotting your restaurant," posted another commenter. "This is not the 1920s."

The original post has been deleted. Infollow-up posts, co-owner Kathleen Lundgaard wrote that the restaurant would consider job applications from women.

"I sincerely apologize for my actions," she wrote. "I have endeavoured to rectify this situation to the best of my ability."

Lundgaard declined a formal interview with the CBC on Thursday, but said she hasspoken with some of the people who complained and they have agreed to "put the negative stuff behind us."

"I'm trying to get past this," Lundgaard said. "It's sad that [sexism] is so common."

Some users wrote that they planned to file complaints to the Yukon Human Rights Commission. Heather McFadgen, the commission's executive director, said she can't comment on specific complaints but said complaints must be filed by the person directly affected.

Charlotte Hrenchuk, co-ordinator of the Yukon Status of Women Council, said she was "appalled" by the offending post, but was heartened by the response by Facebook users. She said employment discrimination against women is still common in Canada.

"I hope this incident serves to create a broader conversation around the whole issue of gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and that people realize that it still does occur and it's time that everyone put a stop to it."