A growing number of Chilliwack, B.C., residents are standing behind a little pink clothing store that is making city hall see red because of its unique paint job.
When the owner of Corner Hut vintage clothing, Twyla Johnson, chose to paint her exterior walls to match her logo last month, she soon learned that not all colours are created equal.
After painting its exterior wall a bright pinkish-purple colour, someone complained to city hall that it was not one of the 75 approved heritage colours submitted by the local business association.
A city enforcement officer told owner Johnson on July 20 to paint it in an approved colour by August 5 or face a hefty fine for breaking the bylaw.
"[They said] if I didn't paint it that they would, and they could, and they would paint it and I would be charged," Johnson said.
Mayor Sharon Gaetz defends the city's action, saying it has an obligation to respond to every complaint.
"When there is a complaint the city has to respond and the city did respond, and apparently the colour was not part of the palate," she told CTV News.
The crackdown by the colour police is being called an attack on the small business and its unique style. Customers like Gary Johnson are signing a growing petition against the decision.
"The city should be ashamed of themselves," said Johnson. "They've got roads to clean, they've got grass to cut. They've got better things to do than harass somebody about making their place look really nice.
CTV News has learned that the complaint came from the local business improvement association themselves. A spokesperson said that they were quite surprised by the public backlash.
Mayor Gaetz said the city can only do so much to help.
"We're suggesting to the BIA if they want to add other colours to their choice they're welcome to do so. But our job is to enforce the bylaws without impartiality," she said.
Pink supporters have vowed to keep up their fight until the Friday deadline.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy
