Allegations of racism during a dispute over an order have led a Beach store to a file police report

Erin Horrocks-Pope June 30, 2020

Updated July 01, 2020

Nabor's Paint at 2184 Queen St. E has fallen under local scrutiny after a customer's Facebook post alleging the store manager made racist comments during a dispute.

A recent allegation of racism at Nabor's Paint Ltd. made by a customer has been met with concern and criticism from locals on social media.

As racism and inequality continue to be heavily called out in solidarity with anti-racism movements, some Facebook users wrote negative reviews on the Nabor's Paint Facebook page, outlining the alleged dispute.

On June 26, Nabor's Paint said in a response to a review on their Facebook page they have filed a police report regarding the "false accusations" made against them.

"No racial slurs or racially motivated comments were made at any time. We apologize if the statement that was made offended you in any way. We accept and respect all races and always have. Nabors Paint LTD."

Russel Ward, the owner of Nabor's Paint, has confirmed to Beach Beat that a police report has been made.

"A police incident report was filed to register the incident only on what was said from our side and witness to this interaction. It is not directed at anyone."

The allegation came from a Facebook post written by Howard Prendergast, the owner of Larry's Painting GTA.

Predergast wrote he has shopped at Nabor's Paint several times over the years for work, until his June 11 dispute with the store manager that he felt took a racist turn after a heated disagreement over his paint order.

Prendergast said that the manager started yelling at him when he insisted there had been a mistake on his order and eventually opened the door while stating "We don't need your kind around here, get out and don't come back to this store."

The Facebook post was shared within several local Beach Facebook groups and many readers expressed concerns with the manager's use of words and lack of quality customer service.

Ward said to Beach Beat that Prendergast was not a victim of racism.

"It has nothing to do with race," Ward said. "He was a previous customer who had dealt with the store before. It wasn't like a 'man of colour' came in the store and we refused to deal with him."

Though Ward is confident after a conversation with the store manager that nothing racist was said, he told Beach Beat he was downstairs mixing paint and couldn't guarantee "what was said or not said".

"He was a previous customer," Ward said. "He's not a regular customer but when works in The Beach he frequents our store. I've never had a problem with him before. It was a disconnect on this particular order and that was it."

While Ward admits the dispute became heated and he told Prendergast he should go somewhere else for his paint, he insists that nothing racist was said by himself or the manager.

July 01, 2020 Update: Police report has been confirmed by Russel Ward, owner of Nabor's Paint Ltd.