A mother is accusing Canada’s Wonderland of racial profiling after her son and his friend were denied entry into the theme park.
Ajax-based Keishia Facey had sent her 16-year-old son and his friend in an Uber to the Vaughan amusement park on Sept. 28, as the pair wished to attend Halloween Haunt. Hours later, she received a call saying that they were denied entry into the event.
Her son, who is Black, was told by security that he matched the description of a previous patron who had been turned away. Despite being willing to show his ID and scan the ticket that would prove he had never been inside the park, the teens were told to leave.
Facey made her way over to Canada’s Wonderland to prove her son was a victim of mistaken identity. She tried to explain to both security and management that her son had not been on the grounds prior to that moment, but she says all her efforts were ultimately dismissed and shrugged off.
It was then when Facey recognized a bigger issue at hand, after looking around to see a group of five to six Black boys also facing a similar issue. Witnessing streams of non-Black children entering with no troubles, she realized that the boys were all facing a textbook case of racial discrimination.
“They just want to go in and have a good time like everybody else. Everybody else is getting access. But Black boys, who have a certain look, a certain aesthetic, are being denied access,” Facey said to Now Toronto on Thursday.
After continuing to advocate for the boys, Facey says security then decided to call the police on her and described her as “aggressive.” She says the police officer who eventually arrived did nothing to help the situation, and instead, continued to dismiss her claims of blatant discrimination.
“… He basically tried to school me on what my experiences of racism could possibly be, because he himself was Chinese, so he’s not capable of enacting anti-Blackness against me. He actually made it worse. He empowered the security guards and disempowered us,” Facey explained.
“We felt a sense of powerlessness as we all walked away, and that was it.”
York Regional Police confirmed that it is aware of the incident, and is currently reviewing the matter with the officer involved and his supervisors. The police service also said it is reaching out to Wonderland for further details.
“We take all reports of discrimination and racism seriously and investigate all allegations thoroughly,” Constable James Dickens said to Now Toronto in an email.
“York Regional Police recognizes it is necessary to continually grow in its capacity and commitment to enhance inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives. Collectively, our shared goal is to enrich inclusive practices for our community and our members.”
According to Canada’s Wonderland, the teenager wasn’t allowed into the park for wearing an item that concealed his identity, an act that is a violation of the park’s Code of Conduct.
“At Canada’s Wonderland, the safety and security of our guests and associates is our top priority,” Dwayne McMulkin, the corporate director of marketing and brand management at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which owns the theme park, said in a statement.
“Our guest Code of Conduct specifically highlights that guests who are concealing their identity with a mask or costume will be denied entry into the park. These items, even if stowed or placed in a pocket, are not permitted inside the park. The guest was denied entry as he was wearing an item that concealed his identity, violating the Code of Conduct.”
McMulkin did not state what item the teen was wearing to conceal his identity.
Facey says the park did not provide this reasoning to her and the boys as to why they could not be allowed inside.
She says her son is still saddened by the circumstances, as he was very excited to experience a fun night out with his friend.
“All he wants to do is go to Wonderland. All he wants to do is go on the roller coaster. And I think that’s why I feel so passionate about it, in a way, because I know he’s young, and I know that childhood is only so long, and I know that these are things that he finds joy, and I know that he works hard when he’s in school. I know that he’s doing his best in many regards to just be a good kid. And so if you get to the end of the week and you want to find some way to enjoy with your friends, you shouldn’t be denied access to that,” Facey said.
“It’s not like they’re not aware of how anti-Black racism operates…. But to experience it, nothing can prepare you.”
Facey, who happens to be the co-founder of REST(OR) REFORM Conference, a social justice conference taking place on Oct. 24, says that in order to move forward, she would like the park to recognize the damage that it did and will continue to do if its acts of racism and discrimination go unaddressed.
“I would like an acknowledgement that the staff at Wonderland are racially profiling the children that are allowed to come in and enjoy the theme park. I would like training for the staff. Because so many of the staff are racialized, they feel like they’re not actually being anti-Black when they are. I would like it for Black children and youth to be able to enjoy the same things that other youth are able to enjoy,” Facey emphasized.
“Why should they be denied access to things strictly just because they’re Black? Because there’s no other reason. They’re not out there misbehaving, they’re not doing anything, they’re not being disrespectful… They’re just existing. So, the resolution would be for them, the staff, to be able to recognize that their bias is at play.”
