Tiber River shutters Kenaston Boulevard store – Winnipeg Free Press

A Winnipeg health product company has abruptly closed its last brick-and-mortar store amid a workplace dispute and lawsuits.

The Tiber River has announced the closure of Kenaston Boulevard on Winnipeg's south side. In an email to customers, the business referred to “circumstances beyond our control”.

He did not specify that the Tiber River had closed the place permanently. Instead, he highlighted the company's online store to customers.

His management did not return interview requests by print deadline. His Coterie location at 1650 Kenaston Blvd. was locked and unoccupied on Monday afternoon.

“The (COVID-19) pandemic has changed many businesses, including Tiber River,” company president Michel Lalonde wrote in an email Monday.

The company is working hard to secure investment capital for its future, he wrote.

A former River Tiber ambassador, who asked not to be named, called the closing of the Kenaston store “no surprise”.

In early 2023, Tiber River cut its embassy program, claiming the business model was unviable.

The ambassadors, who were contractors rather than employees, sold Tiber skin care products and received 30 percent of the profits. For some, it was a full-time job.

The company's management pointed to the pandemic and the accompanying 30% drop in sales as the reason for the reduction of the ambassador program.

However, “their ambassadors (have) created and built their own company,” the former contractor said. “You have cut off the blood of the apostles who founded your program.”

Losing the job selling Tiber River products was “worse than the divorce,” the source added.

The company is currently involved in two active small claims lawsuits.

Four former ambassadors filed separate lawsuits against the Tiber River last year; both were suspended pending a court decision.

In 2023, the ambassadors learned that they would not be able to receive their final commission due to a video made by Tiber River leaders on Facebook. Instead, River Tiber offered loyalty points: ambassadors could purchase River Tiber products.

The company later said it would pay a commission if ambassadors were willing to wait. Several said Free press they have not yet been compensated.

Three of the four lawsuits, including the two pending cases, focused on unpaid wages. The Tiber River encouraged the apostles by promising rest to successful merchants.

Ambassadors earn points for selling products. Thousands of points led to a paid trip the following year, explained one former contractor.

Cynthia Coltalo is among the women who filed a complaint. Coltalo expected to travel to Italy in 2020 (where he was scoring before the pandemic) and Mexico in 2023 with the Tiber River coin.

Both trips never happened, according to Coltalo's lawsuit. Instead of going to Mexico, Tiber River offered Coltalo a $250 prepaid Visa card or a $400 Tiber River gift card.

Tanya Allbutt's lawsuit is similar to Coltalo's. Allbutt was offered a $500 prepaid Visa card or a $750 Tiber River gift card.

“While we would love to reward you with a trip, circumstances make this impossible,” Tiber River Chief Financial Officer Blaine Todd wrote in an email to Allbutt.

Todd noted that Tiber River incentive awards are subject to change without notice.

Despite this, Coltalo and Allbutt are asking $9,500 and $10,150 respectively. Their hearings are scheduled for May.

Discontinued claims against Tiber River in 2023 claimed a collective $12,161.

The Tiber River was embroiled in controversy in 2021 after a social media account called “Not My Tiber” appeared. The Internet space has been rife with claims of a hostile work environment; at the time, Tiber River said it would consult with a human resources firm.

In 2021, Tiber River was also sued for illegal dismissal. A former marketing manager said she was fired because she was pregnant.

The Tiber River replaced the Accademia Road in 2022.

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Gabriel Piche
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Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and reading. She graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in spring 2020.

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