Drop-in owner apologizes after threatening mom with CAS investigation

The owner of a gymnastics centre and drop-in near Ottawa has publicly apologized after threatening a local mom with an investigation from the Children’s Aid Society.

Madalina Gozu has also privately apologized to Ashlee Rhodes.

Rhodes, 25, took her three children to the Kanata Gymnosphere on Feb. 22. Her eldest son, two-and-a-half-year-old Sawyer, has autism. She also has seven-month-old twins, Chase and Elise. One of her twins fell over, Rhodes told CityNews, and when she turned around, Sawyer was gone.

That is common for toddlers, and especially for Sawyer, Rhodes said. In a public message posted to the Kanata Gymnosphere’s Facebook page, she wrote that “it wasn’t the first time … but this time was different.”

Sawyer, she said, was nowhere to be found.

In previous cases, Rhodes told CityNews, staff have been “amazing.” They help Sawyer play on special gymnastics equipment, they help watch the twins, and they’ve helped find Sawyer.

This time, after Sawyer was found, the owner got involved.

“The owner walked up to me and told me I was to leave immediately because I wasn’t aware that my child was missing and that he could have died. I proceeded to tell her that I did in fact know he was missing and that is why I asked for help,” Rhodes said in a public — and now deleted — Facebook post.

Rhodes prepared to leave and asked for her money back.

The owner, Rhodes said, then told her “Wow, I cannot believe the safety of your child is worth five dollars.”

Rhodes left. She called her husband to tell him what had happened. She says she was very distraught as this is one of the few activities that Sawyer, who is non-verbal and is often over-stimulated by noises and lights, truly enjoys.

“Having a child with autism presents many obstacles,” Rhodes told CityNews.

“It’s hard finding a place that he loves. I spent over a year taking him all around the city looking for something for him and now that one place, the one place he felt he could enjoy and be himself, is gone.”

Her husband phoned the owner and after that phone call, Rhodes said, the owner called her again.

According to Rhodes, the owner said that if she saw one bad review on social media, she would call Children’s Aid.

Go ahead, was Rhodes’ response.

She posted about the incident on Facebook.

“We feel responsible to inform child services of your actions for the safety of your unattended children, a GymnoSphere Facebook post reads.

The posts have since been deleted, but screengrabs can be seen below.

In her defense, the owner of the gym said she had real concerns about the safety of Rhodes’ unattended children.

This was not the first time coaches had been requested to help find him. “Also you left your two babies unattended. These are extremely safety concerning circumstances [sic.].

The post also said that the gym had “recorded footage, witness statements, and any other needed documentation” to support these claims.

The owner did not respond to a request for comment. However, Madalina Gozu did apologize on Facebook on Thursday.

Gozu praised her staff, adding “I did not live up to the high standards set by my staff. In the heat of the moment, and threatened with harm to the gymnasium and family gathering place I love so much, I reacted in kind with a totally inappropriate threat.

“I know that sometimes the passion I have for my business clouds my empathy for others, but I also know that we all must make sacrifices and each have challenges we deal with every day to the best of our abilities. That is what makes my outburst so regrettable. I also regret, in the heat of the moment, deleting several abusive comments from our Facebook page. I am a big proponent of free speech and acknowledge this to be a sensitive and emotional issue on which people have strong opinions.

“I do respect those opinions and am willing to listen to them – even the painful ones and have no desire to censor anyone’s speech.”

Gozu posted her email to the page, saying anyone with concerns could email directly. She also wrote that the Facebook page would be a place for gymnasts, most of whom are children, to learn about upcoming activities at the centre.

Wile Rhodes received a private apology, and believes it was sincere, she has no plans to return. She is still searching for programs that she and her three children can particpate in.

“It’ll be trial and error I’m sure,” Rhodes said.

“I have to tell Sawyer we’re never going back, and I have no clue if he’ll even understand what I’m saying to him, and if he does understand I won’t know how upset he is or if he has any questions because he’s nonverbal. That is the hardest thing for me.

“I am not the first woman, or parent to lose sight of their child and I won’t be the last,” she said.