People denied entry to Charlottetown event for having non-English IDs
CBC
Some people wanting to attend a local event this weekend were disappointed when a woman from Mexico who has been living on P.E.I. for over a year was denied entry to a Charlottetown event.
Valeria Toussaint says she has been using her ID from Mexico to go to the liquor store, bars and other events in the city with no issue.
But when she tried to enter Street Feast, a street event put on by Discover Charlottetown, on Friday night, she was told she required an ID in English. The event was for ages 19 and over.
"I was so excited to go," said the 23-year-old Toussaint. "I went last year and I had a pretty good time there. I love Discover Charlottetown events."
Toussaint was with her boyfriend, Diego Orozco, who is also from Mexico. Security was fine letting him in with his American visa, but her Spanish language ID was a problem, she said.
"I showed my identification for Mexico, the one I have used all the time since I was here, in every restaurant, in every bar, in every event," she said. "I never had a problem with it."
Security told her they couldn't read her ID. She used her phone as a light and explained where her date of birth was located. But the security guard explained he couldn't accept it because it wasn't in English, she said.
"I don't know if I was mad or not, I was just confused about the situation," she said. "Wherever I go they ask me for identification. ID, that's it. No ID in English, ID in French."
Toussaint isn't calling the incident racism, but she said it "feels like that" when it happens. Ultimately, she said, she wishes the rule was clearly communicated before she got to the entrance.
"It's frustrating, it's sad," she said.
It's not an isolated incident.
In fact, a CBC reporter was at the event Saturday night and overheard people being told they couldn't enter because their IDs were not in English.
Toussaint said she has other friends who were denied entry for the same reason but they did not want to speak to the media.
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