CALGARY -- The grandson of a Second World War veteran and proud Canadian says he feels ashamed his employer won't let him wear a Remembrance Day poppy to work.
A server at Red Lobster at 2316 16 Ave. N.W. who wanted to remain anonymous, said he was shocked when his manager told him to remove his poppy while on the job.
"I wear a poppy every day and I went into work and the manager came over to me and said we aren't allowed to wear a poppy and not to argue about it," he said.
"I was completely appalled ... it's horrible -- it makes me feel ashamed."
As someone whose grandfather served in the Second World War -- and as a sea cadets instructor himself -- he said he has issued a complaint to the restaurant about not being permitted to wear the little red sign of respect.
"I believe it's a right as a Canadian to be able to wear it," he said.
But the restaurant's manager Jose Torres said while he agrees wearing a poppy is an important way to show respect for those who fought for our country, the rule applies to those who handle or prepare food and was implemented as a safety precaution for guests.
"We had an occurrence last year where one of the pins fell into food," he said.
"It's not a corporate policy ... we are making people aware ... just because it's already occurred before."
He said servers and cooks are asked to keep their poppy in their wallet or a safe place until after their shift is over, when they can put it back on.
George Bittman, chairman of the Calgary Poppy Fund, said while it's disappointing to hear some people are not allowed to wear a poppy, businesses and individuals do have a right to say no to selling or wearing them.
"This is a free country that men and women died for our right to express themselves," he said.
"We are disappointed but also they have a right to say no ... Red Lobster probably has legitimate right to say this has happened before."
