Racism allegations hard to believe, say three South Asians linked to Rodeo – Peace Arch News

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Last month, allegations of sexist and racist behavior in the workplace were made against former Cloverdale Rodeo general manager Mike MacSorley.

Now three South Asians have come forward to say that the racism allegations – made in an anonymous complaint filed with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal – are hard to believe.

When Yogesh Bansal first heard of the allegations, he felt hurt.

“I didn’t know how to respond,” Bansal told The Cloverdale Reporter. “I wanted to scream ‘that’s not who he is!’ And I didn’t know how to do it. But that’s absolutely not true and I want to tell people that.

Bansal, the controller of the Cloverdale Rodeo, said MacSorley hired him in 2013 and worked alongside the former general manager for more than seven years. He said MacSorley might have been abrasive, but he wasn’t racist.

Bansal does not agree with the allegations of racism in the human rights complaint (filed “on behalf of workers and volunteers” by lawyer Rachel Roy) and believes that MacSorley did not “d ‘patently racist views on South Asians’, as the complaint claims.

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“In my eight years, I didn’t feel like I was racially discriminated against [against] at all. I don’t think he’s racist.

Bansal said he didn’t want an apology and cringes at the prospect of receiving one from the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association. (Bansal was indirectly named in the complaint, although, he insists, he is not part of the anonymous complaint.)

Bansal clarified that he didn’t know what others thought of MacSorley, but said he never felt MacSorley thought less of him, or that MacSorley discriminated against him because of his race. Bansal said he also had several other South Asian friends and acquaintances who also knew MacSorley asking Bansal if Bansal wanted them to speak out against the allegations.

Bansal added that MacSorley also has close contacts and excellent relationships with many South Asian contractors and suppliers.

He said he did not think the Association did not fail to address issues of racial harassment against him, as he had not witnessed any.

“If I ever felt, for one day, I would have quit this job, if there had been racism on the part of Mike MacSorley.”

He said it is not true that “MacSorley was allowed to poison the work environment of employees and volunteers with his blatant racism,” as the complaint claims.

“I am a CPA. I have worked in different organizations from time to time. The eight years I have worked here, I would say, have been the best.

SEE ALSO: Cloverdale Rodeo Association addresses human rights complaint

Bansal also disagrees with part of the complaint that indirectly names Bansal. The complaint alleges that “MacSorley has frequently made racist remarks targeting South Asians. Often these remarks were aimed at the Association’s accountant, who is also the only racialized employee to share an office with Mr. MacSorley.

“These were not racist remarks,” Bansal said. “We had disagreements at times, but he was a great person to work with. And it hurts to see what’s going on here, especially with racism, because I don’t think it’s racist.

Bansal said he never felt “targeted”. He said he had never heard of the term “carpet runner” before. “I didn’t know what that meant. I never heard him say that.

He also said he was never submitted and witnessed no “racist tirade” about MacSorley’s thoughts on “a race-crime connection.” Bansal said he had never heard MacSorley say “if we want to reduce crime, we have to get rid of South Asians; they all kill each other anyway.

Bansal said he also disagreed with the allegation that MacSorley “refused to interview or hire anyone he believed to have an Indo-Canadian name.”

“When he says [as alleged in complaint] he wouldn’t hire anyone with a South Asian name, it’s very hard to believe. I find it impossible to believe.

SEE ALSO: Mike MacSorley No Longer Managing Director of Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association

He said he and MacSorley hired many supervisors for the rodeo weekend who were South Asian.

“There were tons of volunteers and he had a good relationship with them. Bansal said he didn’t attend the meetings, but was well aware and saw how MacSorley treated and talked about the volunteers.

“My wife worked here for the Rodeo weekend for four consecutive years,” Bansal explained. “If I ever felt this wasn’t a good place to work, I wouldn’t hire him to work as a supervisor. It says something. And (MacSorley) knew my wife. He knew my children by their first names. He knew what they liked. And my children knew him. Bansal noted that none of his former workplaces bosses knew his children’s names, and his children didn’t know any of his former bosses.

“He went out of his way to get to know people. Not just me. Other people in the office too. He would know their families. He would do whatever he could to figure out where people are coming from. It hurts to think about how he would be feeling right now.

In an email to The Reporter, entrepreneur Rodeo Baljit Sabharwal, CEO of Copytek Print Centers, said he had never witnessed racism from MacSorley. Copytek has held the Rodeo printing contract for several years.

Sabharwal said he was confused when he first heard about the racism allegations because he had such a good relationship with MacSorley. Sabharwal also said he did not believe the allegation, “MacSorley refused to interview or hire anyone he believed to have an Indo-Canadian name.”

“I can’t believe this can be true,” Sabharwal said. “The accountant we dealt with at the Cloverdale Rodeo had an Indian name.”

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Sabharwal said he only spoke about his relationship with MacSorley and added that he did not feel any tension from MacSorley regarding the breed.

“In all of my dealings with the Cloverdale Rodeo, I have never experienced or witnessed any type of racism or racialized comments from the administrative team,” Sabharwal said. “Our personal and professional relationship has been kind, courteous and respectful and no one has ever made me feel like I’m South Asian or Indo-Canadian or racially different. This is one of the reasons the Rodeo is such a valued customer.

Sabharwal wrote that he is a very active member of the community, most notably as a former director of the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Indo Canadian Business Association and a former judge of the Surrey Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards. . And Sabharwal was also part of the team that helped create the Clovies gala several years ago.

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“I would meet Mike a few times a year at different business networking events,” Sabharwal said. “When I became director of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce, he took the time to come meet me and chat. Our relationship was mutually respectful and professional.

Jas Chhina said he was shocked to hear about the racism allegations against MacSorley.

“It’s absurd,” said Chhina, “and also ridiculous. I’ve known these guys since 2009 and can say without hesitation that they’re not racist. I know (MacSorley) personally. He may sound difficult, but he is not racist.

Chhina owns the Holiday Inn in Cloverdale and would see the MacSorley and Rodeo board members at least twice a month at the restaurant there and more so when the Rodeo weekend was underway.

“We had a very diverse staff at the hotel,” said Chhina. “Obviously the guys respected me as the owner, but they respected everyone else and treated my staff with the utmost courtesy. “

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Chhina, who is currently building a banquet hall in South Surrey at King George and 32nd Avenue, said he was angry with the court of public opinion which ruled on the rodeo and MacSorley .

“This is the first time, without any evidence of allegations that I have seen, that the people have made a decision. This is what amazes me. I am not a criminal until my guilt has been proven.

Chhina said he would feel different if MacSorley and Rodeo board members respected Chhina as a business owner, but then treated other South Asians badly.

“Everyone I know who is associated (with the rodeo) and who is South Asian has the same reaction,” Chhina explained. “I’ve known these guys for a long time. They see beyond the color of the skin.

He added that although he has seen MacSorley at his best and worst, he has never witnessed racism. He noted that his relationship with MacSorley and the rest of the board was strictly commercial.

“I’m not their boyfriend. I don’t give them any concessions, ”Chhina said. “Even if there was even the smallest thing, I would say it now because it’s my time, right?” But not at all. “

MacSorley could not be reached for comment before the time of publication.

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