Like us on...
Follow us on...
Thursd a y , Ma y 1 , 2 0 1 4
FERNIE
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
FR E E
The Free Press wins big!
Celebrating Earth Day - Page 24 SPARWOOD
Day of Mourning ceremony - Page 3 BUSINESS
Sarah’s Active Rehab - Page 23
SPORTS
The Free Press is proud to have been awarded the 2014 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Special Publications Award for the 2014 Fernie Winter Guide. From left: Sara Moulton, Bonny McLardy, Nicole Obre, Andrea Horton, and Kaitlyn Haarstad. Photo by J. Cronin
Byrne competes in Utah - Page 21
ENTERTAINMENT
Brass Buttons comes to town - Page 15
Tim Hortons terminates owner of Fernie franchise By Nicole Obre Free Press Staff
T
im Hortons has ended its relationship with Pierre Pelletier, owner of the Fernie and Crowsnest Pass franchises. Pelletier has been the subject of an Employment Standards Branch investigation since December 2013, after a temporary foreign worker from the Philippines filed a complaint. "We have terminated our
relationship with the Blairmore, Alberta/Fernie, B.C. franchisee for failing to comply with employment standards requirements, a matter Tim Hortons takes very seriously," stated Olga Petrycki, senior manager, public affairs, Tim Hortons Inc. Both restaurants are now under corporate control and Tim Hortons could not comment any further on the matter. Former employees Richard Pepito and Heidi Kibanoff were hired at the Fernie location under
Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The couple claims that Pelletier made employees pay back a portion of their overtime wages to him in cash. Pelletier is also accused of charging employees the processing fees for renewing their temporary work permits, which according to regulations, the employer is responsible for paying. “We have been telling the truth the whole time and now justice is being done”, said Pepito, one of the complainants. “I am haunted
with the knowledge that thousands of other Filipinos and other foreign nationals across Canada are susceptible to abuse from their employers. We need to help liberate these workers” He went on to say, “We’re sad about this happening to Pierre, but in another way we’re glad that he has no power anymore to abuse us. It’s so hard as a foreign worker here to go against an employer and to deal with the process. We’re glad that he has no more control.”
Continued on page 4
Now selling building lots www.thecedars.ca For more details contact
TODD FYFE - 250-423-8989 PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
Toll Free: 1-877-423-2001 www.fernierealestate.com