A chef and restaurant owner in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, found herself at the centre of a social media firestorm and targeted online harassment after catering a private event for federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.
The Event That Sparked the Backlash
On Friday, January 8, 2026, Veronica Reale, the owner of Ronny's Bistro, catered a gathering for Poilievre and approximately 40 local Conservatives. The event was hosted by local Member of Parliament Marc Dalton. Following the event, Reale shared a post about it on her social media channels, a decision that would quickly lead to an intense and frightening backlash.
"This was scary for me, it was very bad," Reale later told Maple Ridge News. The single mother, who immigrated to Canada from Italy 12 years ago, began her career learning pizza-making in her homeland and worked in the food industry before opening her own establishment nearly three years ago.
A Wave of Online Vitriol
Less than an hour after her social media post went live, the harassment began. Reale reported receiving a flood of negative responses, prompting her to delete the post after just 40 minutes. "I'm not political, and I didn't know it could be so bad, just hosting a meeting," she stated.
The abuse took multiple forms, including a coordinated campaign of one-star reviews on Google, critical comments, and widespread online discussions advocating for a boycott of her business. For a small business owner who has worked diligently to build a positive reputation in a challenging industry where many restaurants have failed, the threat was immediate and severe.
Political Support and Pushing Back
MP Marc Dalton swiftly came to Reale's defence on social media, posting his support on his Facebook page and condemning the actions of the online commenters. "Cancel culture has real and devastating impacts," Dalton wrote. "When businesses are harassed or threatened over political disagreement, livelihoods are put at risk and communities are harmed. Small businesses should never become collateral damage for someone else's outrage."
Determined to protect the business she built, Reale took action. She spent three days in communication with Google to address the fraudulent reviews. Her efforts were successful: the bistro's online rating was restored to its original 4.6 out of five stars, with genuine reviews praising it as a "true hidden gem" and a "charming spot with a friendly atmosphere."
Reale emphasized that she was simply appreciative of the catering business and is not politically active. The incident serves as a stark example of how political polarization can spill over into the real economy, targeting individuals and businesses caught in the crossfire of partisan sentiment.
