The incident occurred Tuesday morning and in response to Tony Laing, operator of Compass Home Shelter, Mansfield did not attempt to be sneaky concerning the deposit.
“He was confronted when he did it. He did not attempt to preserve it a secret,” stated Laing.
Warren Erhart, president of White Spot Hospitality, despatched CBC Information a written assertion on Wednesday acknowledging the incident.
“The actions on Tuesday morning by Al Mansfield, a White Spot franchisee within the Okanagan, have been disgraceful and under no circumstances signify the values of White Spot Hospitality,” stated Erhart.
“We acknowledge the acute severity of this case and can be conducting an intensive investigation into this matter,” he stated.
In response to Erhart, Mansfield has expressed disgrace and regret, and has apologized for the incident.
A assertion attributed to Mansfield is posted on the information web site, Castanet. In it, the franchisee expresses embarrassment.
“I additionally apologize to the folks of Penticton for exhibiting such callous disregard for the homeless residents in our group who are sometimes probably the most susceptible and deprived via no fault of their very own,” stated Mansfield, including that he “merely snapped” after discovering human feces close to his restaurant.
Laing stated Mansfield has apologized to him, however he stated if he had referred to as the shelter, somebody would have come to wash up the mess — even when it could not have had something to do with shelter company.
“We’re struggling in Penticton to work with all our neighbours and coping with the homeless is a controversial challenge proper now,” stated Laing, including that anti-homeless sentiment within the metropolis and amongst metropolis council members has been disappointing.
“It is unlucky,” he stated. “[But] that is one other step up from every part that is been achieved to this point.”