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Human rights complainant ordered to pay $3,000

Last Updated: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 | 2:11 PM ET

CBC News

A B.C. man who filed a human rights complaint against Just Ladies Fitness in Burnaby more than two years ago has now been ordered to pay the gym $3,000 because of the way he behaved.

Gordon Stopps made a formal complaint after being told he couldn't use a 10-day free pass to work out at the women-only gym. But the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal rejected his complaint of gender discrimination.

Gordon Stopps had filed a gender-discrimination complaint against a women-only gym in Burnaby, B.C.
(CBC)

A lawyer for Just Ladies Fitness then argued Stopps should have to pay for his behaviour during the dispute, something that's happened at the tribunal just 17 times since 1999.

Gym managers accused Stopps of hostile behaviour, intimidating an 18-year-old receptionist and calling himself a "soldier of God."

They also complained that he had filed legal documents suggesting that one manager at the fitness centre could only blame herself for not getting into heaven.

Stopps also accused people at the gym of assault, alleging they tried to intimidate him into dropping his complaint.

However, the tribunal found his story didn't match what he told the RCMP.

The tribunal said Stopps had engaged in "improper conduct" and pointed out the award isn't about the merits of his case. It also said the $3,000 award should not discourage people from filing human rights complaints.

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Women's-only gym faces human rights complaint

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Full text of decision by B.C. Human Rights Tribunal (.pdf)

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