Nova Scotia

Andrella David's discrimination case against Sobeys continues

A Hammonds Plains, N.S., woman says a Sobeys employee accused her of stealing things from the store because she is black, and a different black person had allegedly stolen items.

Andrella David says race was reason for discrimination

Andrella David says the discrimination incident occurred when she was shopping at a Sobeys store in May 2009. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

A Hammonds Plains, N.S., woman says a Sobeys employee accused her of stealing things from the store because she is black, and a different black person had allegedly stolen items. 

Andrella David says while shopping for ice cream in the Tantallon Sobeys in May 2009, she was discriminated against by staff because of her race. 

David told the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission that she picked up ice cream at the store and went to pay at the cash. She says an employee approached her and said they had security video of her stealing the week before, and told her to stop. 

David says the video didn't show her, but another woman. 

On Tuesday, the Sobeys employee told the hearing that she thought the video showed the same woman because of her braided hair, hair band, purse, height and weight. 

David was not charged with any offence. 

On Tuesday, an independent board of inquiry heard testimony from the then-manager of the grocery store. 

The proceedings are expected to continue into Wednesday.