Winnipeg woman laughed at after reporting sexual assault at Dollarama
Jillian Taylor | CBC News | Posted: July 8, 2015 10:00 AM | Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Jacquelyn Fontaine says she was groped by another customer, then laughed at by staff member
A Winnipeg woman got more then she bargained for while shopping at Dollarama on Monday.
Jacquelyn Fontaine said she was looking at picture frames at the Redwood and Main location when she felt someone brush up against her.
"I looked and there is a guy there, and there is plenty of room," said Fontaine. "I didn't think anything of it at first."
She continued shopping and a few minutes later she felt someone touch her backside again.
"I confronted him. He started laughing and he apologized, but at the same time he groped me," she said.
Fontaine said she had her back to the man and challenged his behaviour. She said she was shocked that he groped her as he was apologizing.
The man touched her three times in total, she added.
Fontaine said she went to the cashier to ask if a security guard could deal with the man.
"I just walked to the front to tell the lady about it and she laughed about it. She thought it was funny," said Fontaine.
'That's sexual harassment'
Embarrassed and upset, Fontaine paid for her items and left the store. She said she got up the courage to go back and confront the man again.
"I told him that's sexual harassment," she said.
She took his picture and called police. Officers told her to bring in the pictures and file a report, and Fontaine said she intends to do that.
Dollarama would not comment on the cashier's actions, but said it is investigating the incident.
In a written statement, Dollarama spokesperson Lyla Radmanovich said, "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our employees and stores uphold the highest safety and customer service standards and to provide the police with our full co-operation."
In a late email sent to CBC News, Fontaine said she called Dollarama headquarters in Montreal and talked to "a nice lady" who said the company will do an investigation of the store and the employee who laughed about the incident.
"She said she will be getting back to me by the end of next week to let me know what they will be doing," Fontaine said.