Meant to impact drivers, a commercial about speeding may soon end after disability group advocates found some scenes inappropriate.
Three-time Paralympic medallist Jared Funk supports the message to drive safe but the wheelchair rugby athlete feels the final shots in the ad veer off course.
“It's just at the end where they show someone in a wheelchair being the outcast and onlooker and playing sports. That's where it kind of hit a nerve for some of us,” said Funk.
The Winnipeg police public service announcement shows a crash through the eyes of a young man.
His speeding leads to a friend's death, and lands the driver in a wheelchair.
The end shows him sadly looking on as others play basketball.
Funk feels it shows segregation.
“When something like this comes it just kind of reverts back to the old, old stereotypes and we're trying to shatter that,” he said.
Funk and several others in the community feel it could violate the human rights code, prompting the police board to ask for an end to it or an alteration to the online ad.
“It looks to a certain extent like people with disabilities can't participate and we know that's not true,” said Coun. Scott Fielding, chair of the Winnipeg police board.
Earlier this year, calls came to pull the PSA from TV. Instead, the prepaid ad ran its course.
Devon Clunis, Winnipeg police chief, said they vetted the ad through a human rights advocate prior to it airing, but will consider pulling or changing the online
“Certainly if there's a segment of the community offended by it, we want to take a serious look at it,” said Clunis.
The Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association also issued a statement.
“At minimum, the commercial should be altered in some capacity to remove that negative stereotype. That few seconds leaves an impressionable image on young disabled athletes for all the wrong reasons. If that is not possible, then the commercial should be removed entirely,” said the statement.
