Local business owners will continue protesting Chick-Fil-A

LGBTQ advocates protested outside Windsor’s city hall Monday night to oppose plans for the new Chick-Fil-A opening in Windsor. 

Protesters oppose the site plan approval because of the company’s history of supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations and their cruel practices towards animals. Council has since approved the site plans for the fast-food chain to open its second Canadian location on Howard Avenue. 

Earlier that day, city council notified the group that they have limited bargaining power when it comes to the proposed site.

“Voting down [this fast-food restaurant] would only result in an appeal to the province which will overrule council if the business is not violating any rules/laws,” council members wrote to protest organizers. 

Protest organizer and local business owner, Cole Fortier, stands firmly committed to protesting the chain breaking into the Canadian market. 

“We need to let Chick-Fil-A know they are not welcome in our country,” said Fortier. “We’re going to protest every step of the way.”

Fortier is part owner of vintage retail shop located downtown Windsor.

“I think other business owners just need to come forward and say, ‘We don’t want Chick-Fil-A in our country’ —not only just because it’s an American company that’s not locally sourced, but also because it doesn’t align with Canadian morals,” said Fortier. “Hopefully this protest will set an example for any other city that has a proposed Chick-Fil-A restaurant.”

Fortier and his life-partner, Ryan Champagne, are local entrepreneurs who keep LGBTQ people at the front and centre of their business model. 

“Something that we do is we have a lot of photoshoots that include trans and queer models. Just having gay and trans people visible in our society is super important,” said Champagne who was also protesting the restaurant.

The protesters also spoke out against the company for its reported history of cruel treatment toward animals. One example of this mistreatment came in 2014, when undercover investigators exposed video footage of workers allegedly mistreating Chick-Fil-A supplier farm chickens. 

“It is up to us as consumers to let Chick-Fil-A know they are not welcome in our community,” reads a recent post from one of the group admins.

Since Chick-Fil-A Canada is still in its infancy, protesters believe they will set an example for other cities around the country.