Southeast Calgary Dairy Queen ordered to close over mice infestation

Alberta Health Services says it has ordered the closure of a Dairy Queen and Orange Julius restaurant in southeast Calgary after an inspection revealed a mice infestation.

A notice of closure issued Monday by the AHS says the Dairy Queen location owned by Cheryl Louie at 159-9919 Fairmont Drive S.E. has been ordered to close after an AHS inspection revealed mice feces throughout the restaurant — including in areas accessed by customers.

“Mice feces were observed beneath equipment, tables, and coolers in the front service area, back storage area, and decorating area, and office area,” the notice from AHS said.

“A mouse nest was found behind the ice cream machine, indicated by the presence of debris and numerous mouse droppings.”

The letter goes on to say inspectors found several gaps between doors and holes in the walls and baseboards of the restaurant, and there were no pest control records available.

Those findings were all in breach of Alberta’s Public Health Act, Food Regulation Act, Alberta Regulation and Food Retail and Foodservices Code, and the restaurant was ordered to immediately close and be disinfected.

The Dairy Queen location was also advised to move all furniture to inspect the severity of the mouse infestation, hire a pest control company and repair all gaps in the building to make sure mice can no longer get in.

The restaurant is to remain closed until the work is “completed to the satisfaction of an Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services,” the closure letter noted.