Wow, can't believe I read all that.

But congrats!

Respect for fighting for your rights. +1

This is really great.

To the Bhangra Community,

Re: Bhangra Idols(Reps.) VS. Sheraton Wall Centre-Vancouver, B.C.-BC Human Rights Case

In September of 2008, the representatives for Bhangra Idols tried to book rooms at the above stated hotel, but they were denied the booking due to them having "Bhangra" in their brand name. Sheraton's explanation was that they previously had problems with a group with the same name "Bhangra" in it, and they have policy that states they cannot accept any groups with the name "Bhangra" in it. So, a Bhangra Idols representative asked for this policy, but was not provided one. Therefore the representatives filed a BC Human Rights Case against Sheraton Wall Centre particular to the following code:

Discrimination in accommodation, service and facility

8 (1) A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,       

(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or       

(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service, or facility customarily available to the  public because of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation or age of that person or class of persons.

The Bhangra Idols legal team established that- participants in "Bhangra" are associated, overwhelmingly, with Punjab, therefore a protected group under the code.

The final decision after the incident (on September 16th 2008, and then a long litigation) came in today, by the BC Human Rights Tribunal Member:

"...having found the complaint justified, I must order the respondent (Sheraton) to "cease the contravention and refrain from committing the same or a similar one", and I so order."

"I may make a declaratory order that the conduct complained of is discrimination contrary to the Code, and I so order"

Please log onto the following link:

www.bchrt.bc.ca/decisions/2011/pdf/june/147_C1_and_Sangha_v_Sheraton_Wall_Centre_No_2_2011_BCHRT_147.pdf

Thank You

Regards,

Bhangra Idols Admin.

+1

yeah C1 !!

Good for Idols.

But this will keep happening so long as teams go to competitions and act like uncivilized animals. The stuff you see is sickening, and I am sympathetic to the people who work at the hotel and  have to deal with BS from teams. 

Good for Idols.

But this will keep happening so long as teams go to competitions and act like uncivilized animals. The stuff you see is sickening, and I am sympathetic to the people who work at the hotel and  have to deal with BS from teams. 

Agree.

Awesome for Idols and great that you all went through with the case - but isn't it sad that all these competitions even have to go through this?

This has been a long, painful, drawn-out set of unfortunate circumstances for the Idols committee and on it's successful conclusion I congratulate you!  It's Raj's perseverance that got them this far, Raj Sangha FTW!
 
Having said that, I agree with the above posters that hotels are also trying to run a business and often the teams are not the sole guests.  If teams cannot behave themselves and act like adults (or at least, not act like little kids) Idols would not have found themselves in this situation in the first place. 

LOL @ whoever felt the need to urinate on a carpet at VIBC

Raj Sangha invented water.

LOL!!

Raj has always been there for his teams, community and friends. Im so glad to see this! Congrats Raj!

First of all I want to say congrats to Raj and the entire Bhangra Idols Crew. I know this has been a long and costly battle for you guys but the fact that you came out on top and did exactly what you set out to do makes it worth it! I agree with everyone saying that this will continue to happen if the teams don't clean up their acts but with this step Idols is setting an example to everyone. Raj and Bhangra Idols will fight for their teams and the community.
Anybody that plans on participating at Idols knows that the registration packet gets bigger and bigger each year and that is to prevent teams from doing dumb stuff. If any other competition wants to take anything from Idols it should be the fact that teams can lose points at anytime from the registration stages until the after the competition. Highly suggest this to be implied into future competitions because it allows for a more professional environment throughout the weekend.