Regina woman who was denied haircut, barber settle human rights complaint

A settlement has been reached ina Regina woman's human rights complaint againsta barbershop that refused to give her a man's haircut.

RaggedAss Barbers Inc.has apologized to Evie Ruddy and confirmed that in future they will serve all customers, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission said Tuesday.

• POLL:What do you think about the complaint resolution against Ragged Ass Barbers?

The Regina shop caters to a largely male clientele. In August2014, when Ruddy inquired about gettinga haircut at the the shop, she was denied service.

That was wrong, company ownerCraigZamonskysaid in a written statement from the commission.

"On behalf of Ragged Ass Barbers I would like to extend my apologies to Evie Ruddy," Zamonskysaid.

"She should not have been turned away when she contacted the barbershop to inquire about getting a haircut. It is and will be our policy to provide services to anyone who wants a traditional men's haircut."

Ruddy said the apology is much-appreciated.

"I believe it to be heartfelt and genuine. It was a difficult time for me and my friends and family to experience what it is like to face discrimination and to voice it," she said.

Refusing service based on gender is contrary to Section 12 of The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

Thesection saysno person may be denied "the accommodation, services or facilities to which the public is customarily admitted or that are offered to the public."