Windsor Thai restaurant receives outpouring of support, donates $4K to COVID-19 fund following mask dispute

After being threatened with human rights action, the owners of Thai Palace restaurant said they received an outpouring of support from the community that has led them to donate thousands of dollars to Windsor Regional Hospital's COVID-19 fund.

On Monday, owners Renu and Charles Anderson donated $4,000 to the hospital's pandemic fundas a way of giving back to the community that they saidrallied behind them when a customerthreatened legal action.

In October, after therestaurant refused service to a customer who wouldn't wear a mask at itswalk-up takeout window they receiveda letter fromAntoine d'Ailly Law Office.

The letterstated thata claim of discrimination wouldbe filed against the restaurant for violating the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Or, to avoid this, the letter from the law office said the restaurant could pay $20,000.

After the couple went public with thisincident, Renu said that they received a lot of phone calls, emails and business.

"We have lots of overwhelming support from locals, community," Renu said. "[The money is]for the supports that we get even from the hospital, even from frontline staff, everybody. They always thanks us, support us."

She addedthat they chose a fund dedicated to COVID-19 because it's whatsparked the entire situation.

At the time, CBC NewscalledAntoine d'Ailly Law Office four times and sent an email seeking comment on the letter, but did not receivea response.

Thai Palace did not pay the $20,000 and Renu said the issue has not escalated any further.

"I just want everybody to know that we appreciate everything that your help and ...doesn'tmatter just a phone call, just an email, just a message on our social media we thank you ... we just want everybody to have a Merry Christmas and ... we're going to go through COVID together."