Dillon Mazzei’s post – which included laughing emoticons, slurs like calling the dead man a “Hindu” and a wish that more people had been injured – was widely shared and condemned Monday. Mazzei’s former boss called the comments ‘racist,’ and ‘hateful’. The post was in response to the death of 65-year-old Sohan Singh Sidhu, who fell off a Canada Day float on Sunday and died. Mazzei’s Facebook page has now been deleted.

MISSION – A racist man from Mission, BC who called an elderly Punjabi man who died last weekend a “Hindu” has been fired from his job.

Dillon Mazzei, who posted the offending racist garbage on his facebook page, has been fired by his employer Terra-Link Horticulture.

Dillon Mazzei’s post – which included laughing emoticons, slurs like calling the dead man a “Hindu” and a wish that more people had been injured – was widely shared and condemned Monday.

Mazzei’s Facebook page has now been deleted.

Mazzei’s former boss called the comments ‘racist,’ and ‘hateful’. The post was in response to the death of 65-year-old Sohan Singh Sidhu, who fell off a Canada Day float on Sunday and died.

Stan Loewen, the CEO of Terra-Link Horticulture Inc.- where Mazzei was working as a fork-lift driver- says they didn’t hesitate to take swift action after they found out about the post.

“When you get a chance to speak up for something you think is right, then maybe it’s time to do that, and make it known, and have a voice, and hopefully make a positive impact for change,” he says.

Terra-Link Horticulture Inc. made no secret of the firing, posting a lengthy explanation to their Facebook page.

This is what Terralink wrote:

“TerraLink is strongly opposed to the racist and hateful comments expressed yesterday on Facebook. The individual does not represent our company and did this on his own initiative without our knowledge. We completely disavow his views and his employment with TerraLink was immediately terminated today.

We are publicly stating that TerraLink's values are for inclusiveness of all people who make up the fabric of society.  Given the nature of the comments, we particularly wish to inform the Indo-Canadian community that we are supportive of them.  We stand with the Indo-Canadian community who are our friends and business colleagues. Together we mourn the loss of Sohan Singh Sidhu who tragically died in the accident following the Canada Day parade.

For more than four decades the ownership of TerraLink, its management and staff have promoted equality and equal rights for all.  We urge others to do so to help remove hate and discrimination from all walks of life.  We are multiethnic, multicultural and multigenerational.  We consciously work towards fairness and goodwill towards all people and will continue to do so.

We express our deep condolences to the grieved family.”

Sincerely,

Stan Loewen, President and CEO

TerraLink Horticulture Inc.