Saskatoon bar and event venue taking proactive steps to make guests feel safer

Savhanna Joy Wilson was hired as the consultant to work with Amigos to become more safe and inclusive and they said it didn’t take a 'PR nightmare' for the venue to reach out.

A Saskatoon bar and event venue is making small and big steps to try and improve guests’ experience when it comes to safety and accommodations.

Amigos Cantina has been a staple of the Broadway neighbourhood for over 30 years, serving up Tex-Mex cuisine and hosting a variety of musical artists.

A few months ago, Amigos decided to start working with a consultant about how they could make the venue a safer spot for guests.

“We certainly don’t profess to know all the answers about different groups and different aspects of society so we hired a consultant and they’ve been guiding us very well through the process,” Amigos owner and manager Jim Clarke said.

Savhanna Joy Wilson was hired as the consultant and they said it didn’t take a “PR nightmare” for Amigos to reach out.

“It was really proactive. It was really a response to the dialogue that has been happening and a commitment to the community that they’re a part of,” Wilson said.

Wilson does consulting work for businesses, non-profits, grassroots organizations and political groups. They support and facilitate businesses and groups as they work to shift their practices toward equity.

“(I am) particularly interested in guiding groups through the challenge of recognizing the ways that they might be perpetuating injustices intentionally and then helping them take ownership over that and to reposition themselves to develop with a more just future in mind,” Wilson said.