Vancouver mask company speaks out after flood of hateful messages
Crown Mutual Medical Group has been manufacturing medical masks since the beginning of the pandemic. The former marketing company is one of many businesses that was forced to pivot when COVID-19 began plaguing the country.
The company tells CTV News Vancouver it recently posted an advertising video on Facebook, echoing the provincial government’s mask mandate and asking people to please get vaccinated to prevent the spread of COVID-19..
“The intensity of the feedback kept growing,” said Sean McKay, the company’s marketing director. “The next thing we knew, we had over 130 comments on our Facebook page, each of them angrier than the next.”
From accusing the company to being part of a conspiracy theory to peddling propaganda, the comments became too overwhelming and forced the company to pull the plug on the ad.
“We know people are tired of COVID,” McKay said. “We’re definitely tired of COVID too. We make masks, but I think people need to look a little further under the surface here because we’re here to help. We’re here to make medical masks to keep people safe.”
Many businesses have been targeted throughout the pandemic for making personal protective equipment like masks. Complaints escalated this summer, when health officials lifted the mask mandate in B.C. and left it up to businesses to decide whether to require them.
With less than two weeks to go until B.C.’s vaccine passport system rolls out, some fear the anger will only get worse.
“I think everyone has a right to doubt, ask questions and push back, but we have to remember that this is a unique situation that’s never happened before, but we’re all in it,” McKay said. “We’re all subject. And we should all want to help each other.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Canada Post’s newest stamp features special cookies for Islamic holiday
Canada Post’s newest specialty stamps feature “melt-in-your-mouth” desserts to mark two Islamic festivals, the crown corporation announced Thursday.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Canada's real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.