Help Bill become a Chef!
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Dear Friends,
In April 2014 I was denied service and thrown out of Southeastern Computer Services in Weyburn because of my beliefs regarding homosexuality, which are informed by my Christian faith. In the days following my ejection from Southeastern Computer Services the owner of the computer store made a number of derogatory statements about Christianity online and I laid a human rights complaint for discrimination against Christians.
After an investigation, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission found probable cause discrimination occured and ordered the owner of the computer shop where I was discriminated against to attend a mediation session with myself and a mediator.
Anyways, after praying about the matter I really believed that God wanted me to show grace to the owner of the computer shop and not take any money from him that I was legally entitled to. I trotted out the case law for similar discrimination judgments to the owner and the lawyer who was accompanying him to show that I knew what I was legally entitled to ask for and then told them I didn't want any money as I believed in the owner's property rights and I wanted to demonstrate grace towards the owner. Rather than discussing how much money I could get to settle the case I wanted to use the mediation process for a genuine restoration of relationships.
In the end the owner chose to make a small donation to a local pro-life charity for carpet cleaning and I offered to buy the owner a beer. The owner declined the beer and we shook hands and I really believed the issue was settled and the animosity was gone.
Sadly, in the months that followed the mediation session the owner and a homosexual rights group he belonged to had a discussion on Facebook about my cleaning business and local contracts that I had in the area. While some folks in the group believed I had the right to work and live in the community even though they disagreed with my views, the owner and a few other members were quite vocal they did not believe I had a right to live and work in Weyburn. Shortly after that discussion took place my largest contract was lost and it was impossible to get enough work to sustain myself as word spread through Weyburn that I was to be boycotted and even businesses who liked me were afraid to hire me because of the controvery. Hence, I went bankrupt and had to relocate elsewhere.
Now I am in the Philippines with my wife and am going to De La Salle Lipa University's culinary school to become a Chef. I love the school, as it is a very conservative Christian school. I fit in well and I am getting high marks in my first month, 92 % on my ethics quiz and nothing below an A so far.
My only challenge is I left Canada with very little money and what little I had is invested in a food cart that my wife and I are hoping will generate income in the near future. My next tuition payment is coming due in three weeks and we could use a little help, so I can become self sufficient in a career I am suited for again.
Generally my fund raising has been for the pro-life and pro-family causes. This time I need a little help to have my life restored, but even now it isn't only about me. This new career can be used for God's glory and even while I am in full time studies God is using me to positively impact lives (I have been blessed to be able to teach English and Bible literacy to some poor children at a small school in my neighbourhood on a weekly basis).
Looking at our finances I think I need around $10,000 to make it through school. Also, the head teacher Chef Shirley informed me she would be comfortable recommending me to train in Spain next year in a Michelin starred hotel (a restraunt that gets a Michelin star designation is about the equivelant of a movie that gets an Academy Award) so long as my marks remain high and I keep a good attitude.
With God's grace and a little help from my friends maybe I can become not only a chef, but one with world class training.
In April 2014 I was denied service and thrown out of Southeastern Computer Services in Weyburn because of my beliefs regarding homosexuality, which are informed by my Christian faith. In the days following my ejection from Southeastern Computer Services the owner of the computer store made a number of derogatory statements about Christianity online and I laid a human rights complaint for discrimination against Christians.
After an investigation, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission found probable cause discrimination occured and ordered the owner of the computer shop where I was discriminated against to attend a mediation session with myself and a mediator.
Anyways, after praying about the matter I really believed that God wanted me to show grace to the owner of the computer shop and not take any money from him that I was legally entitled to. I trotted out the case law for similar discrimination judgments to the owner and the lawyer who was accompanying him to show that I knew what I was legally entitled to ask for and then told them I didn't want any money as I believed in the owner's property rights and I wanted to demonstrate grace towards the owner. Rather than discussing how much money I could get to settle the case I wanted to use the mediation process for a genuine restoration of relationships.
In the end the owner chose to make a small donation to a local pro-life charity for carpet cleaning and I offered to buy the owner a beer. The owner declined the beer and we shook hands and I really believed the issue was settled and the animosity was gone.
Sadly, in the months that followed the mediation session the owner and a homosexual rights group he belonged to had a discussion on Facebook about my cleaning business and local contracts that I had in the area. While some folks in the group believed I had the right to work and live in the community even though they disagreed with my views, the owner and a few other members were quite vocal they did not believe I had a right to live and work in Weyburn. Shortly after that discussion took place my largest contract was lost and it was impossible to get enough work to sustain myself as word spread through Weyburn that I was to be boycotted and even businesses who liked me were afraid to hire me because of the controvery. Hence, I went bankrupt and had to relocate elsewhere.
Now I am in the Philippines with my wife and am going to De La Salle Lipa University's culinary school to become a Chef. I love the school, as it is a very conservative Christian school. I fit in well and I am getting high marks in my first month, 92 % on my ethics quiz and nothing below an A so far.
My only challenge is I left Canada with very little money and what little I had is invested in a food cart that my wife and I are hoping will generate income in the near future. My next tuition payment is coming due in three weeks and we could use a little help, so I can become self sufficient in a career I am suited for again.
Generally my fund raising has been for the pro-life and pro-family causes. This time I need a little help to have my life restored, but even now it isn't only about me. This new career can be used for God's glory and even while I am in full time studies God is using me to positively impact lives (I have been blessed to be able to teach English and Bible literacy to some poor children at a small school in my neighbourhood on a weekly basis).
Looking at our finances I think I need around $10,000 to make it through school. Also, the head teacher Chef Shirley informed me she would be comfortable recommending me to train in Spain next year in a Michelin starred hotel (a restraunt that gets a Michelin star designation is about the equivelant of a movie that gets an Academy Award) so long as my marks remain high and I keep a good attitude.
With God's grace and a little help from my friends maybe I can become not only a chef, but one with world class training.
Organizer
Bill Whatcott
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
