A prominent gourmet food supplier, caterer and retailer in Canmore, Alta., has removed its president from the company’s management after he sent a transphobic email to organizers of the city’s Pride events. Canmore Pride had contacted the ownership of Valbella Gourmet Foods to inquire about sponsorships or food donations for an “inclusive and free climbing event” during Canmore Pride in mid-September. The response – which contained a string of conspiratorial, transphobic and homophobic slurs – took Canmore Pride co-chair K Kealey by surprise. “I was really shocked and obviously very disappointed,” they said. “I’m a trans person myself, so it’s also very hurtful and always so frustrating when, you know, people still think like that. And a lot of his message just plays up these horrible stigmas that are really dangerous to our community.” The email, signed by Jeff von Rotz, repeated untruths about transgender people being dangerous to children and perpetrators of violence. Valbella Gourmet Foods owner Jeff von Rotz’s response to a Canmore pride sponsorship request. (K Kealey) But it’s actually trans people who are at risk of violence and abuse, Kealey said. “It is extremely harmful and disturbing,” they said. Kealey said they posted the email to a private message group of queer people living in the Bow Valley to let the community know how the business treats trans people and that it may not be a safe space for them to support. “Everyone was very angry and upset that someone would say such a thing,” they added. The message was eventually posted on Twitter, where the wider community expressed its support for Canmore Pride, causing a social media storm. The company released a statement Tuesday afternoon on its Facebook page after users began calling for major clients such as Fairmont Hotels and the Banff Center to cut ties with Valbella. Signed by Chantal von Rotz, the statement apologized for the email and said the person who wrote the email has been removed from the company and is no longer responsible for its operations. “One person’s words do not reflect the opinions of the many people who work as members of the Valbella team,” the post reads. “Instead, we strive to make our company an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome.” The email, written by Jeff von Rotz, speaks to the false claims common among right-wing conspiracy theorists of LGBTQ people grooming children for child abuse, saying that there would be some other organization that “woke up mentally ill enough to help”. “I’m sorry to say but you couldn’t pay me to sponsor anything to do with grooming t—- children,” she wrote. Jeff von Rotz signed the email as the owner, but Chantal von Rotz later clarified that the owners and founders of Valbella Gourmet Foods are parents Walter and Leonie von Rotz. He said that Jeff von Rotz held the official title of president and that his employment was terminated on July 26. Following the recent announcements made public today to the Bow Valley community and Valbella Gourmet Foods, the Banff Center has chosen to remove all Valbella products from the company’s operations and will forfeit any business relationships. —@banffcentre Social media users went through the list of businesses Valbella supplies and called on them to stop buying from the business. Several clients of Valbella’s later said they were canceling their contracts, including the Banff Center and Fairmont Hotels. The Town of Canmore also issued a statement saying it stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in a response posted on Facebook later in the day. The City of Canmore proudly stands in solidarity with LGTBQIA2S+ residents and visitors who make this city a more vibrant and diverse place to call home. Our municipal buildings and programs are safe spaces for everyone. pic.twitter.com/ydPLz3px52 —@TownofCanmore Kealey called the response “panicked” and unclear, as the public said they would no longer support the business, questioning whether the family company had really put Jeff out of business. Valbella could also go much further in remediation, according to Kealey. They could say how Jeff von Rotz was removed and explain some actions they can take to undo some of the harm his comments have caused. CBC News made an interview request to Jeff von Rotz but did not receive a response. A request was made to the company, but CBC News was directed to the Facebook statement. Kealey sees the ordeal as a teachable moment that the community can do more than just support the community during Pride. “I think this is a prime example of why we continue to need spaces specifically for people in marginalized communities,” they said.
