No apology from Summerland mayor

Toni Boot has refused to apologize to a Summerland shop owner who claims the mayor damaged his reputation when she dropped by for a well-publicized visit earlier this month to destroy what was left of a shipment of bandanas that looked like the Confederate flag.

“I knowingly put myself in a place of criticism. My actions, done as the mayor of Summerland, were an overt and public display of anti-racism in response to an overt and public display of racism earlier in the week.

“The Confederate flag is a contributing factor to displays of racism. I am a leader and leaders are expected to lead,” Boot said in her mayor’s report during what was a regularly scheduled council meeting. “In Canada, the sale of the Confederate flag and merchandise bearing its image is not illegal — neither is the sale of the Nazi Party flag. The Confederate flag is a universal symbol of hate, just like the swastika. Both flags have been co-opted by white supremacy groups.”

Boot showed up at Your Dollar Store With More on July 18 with two friends and a reporter in tow, and confronted staff about the sale of the bandanas.

The mayor said she learned the bandanas were at the store after accepting an apology the night before from a man who displayed one of the items during an anti-racism parade earlier in the week.

Allan Carter, owner of Your Dollar Store With More, asked for a public apology from Boot “for bullying my staff and her very inappropriate actions,” and claimed the issue “is not about racism.”

“This issue is about your lack of respect, professional conduct, abuse of power, bullying and poor judgment towards a local business and staff that strongly supports our community events financially and our community at large,” concluded Carter.