In West Kelowna, British Columbia, the city council has denied a permit for a concert by American Christian singer Sean Feucht, widely recognized for his support of the Make America Great Again movement. The concert was scheduled to take place in Memorial Park on Saturday, organized by the Burn 24/7 Canada Worship Ministries Society. The city cited public safety concerns as the primary reason for denying the permit.
According to an official statement from the city, the permit request was reassessed with input from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and West Kelowna Fire Rescue. The city concluded that the safety and security plans proposed by the event organizer did not adequately address potential public safety risks.
This decision follows a trend in Canadian communities where Feucht's concerts have faced scrutiny. West Kelowna marks one of the latest cities to cancel Feucht's event, which aligns with similar actions taken by the City of Abbotsford in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, which also recently denied a permit for a performance at Mill Lake Park planned for Sunday. This comes after a series of cancellations affecting six of Feucht's concert dates across Central and Eastern Canada.
Feucht, who attempted to secure a congressional seat as a Republican in 2020, is known for controversial statements regarding the LGBTQ+ community and issues such as abortion. On Wednesday, he took to social media to announce his presence in Canada, sharing a photo from Winnipeg Richardson International Airport. He remarked, “Your fav American worship leader is back. They let me in again,” suggesting that he remains undeterred by the cancellations.
In his posts, Feucht criticized Canadian mayors—whom he referred to as 'Christian'—for canceling his outdoor worship services, alleging that these mayors allow mass protests and pride events to proceed without similar scrutiny. His inability to secure permits in several cities has drawn attention and stirred debate around freedom of expression. Feucht has faced backlash for inflammatory remarks, including a statement he made in August about the LGBTQ+ community, which he labeled as a "cult" targeting children.
Responses to the concert cancellations have varied. Advocacy Canada, a non-profit organization representing the LGBTQ community, expressed gratitude towards the city's decision in West Kelowna. They communicated their appreciation for those who voiced opposition to what they termed as hateful rhetoric in the region. Initially, the group had planned a peaceful rally during the concert, but this has since been canceled after the permit was denied.
On the other hand, the Canadian Constitution Foundation contended that Feucht's Charter rights have been infringed by the consecutive cancellations. James Turk, the director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University, raised concerns about the implications of public institutions denying permits based on the content of expressed views, asserting that it poses significant questions surrounding free speech.
As of now, Feucht's planned performances are still set to continue, with concerts scheduled in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Edmonton. However, the show in Abbotsford will now take place at a private venue instead of the initial public setting. The landscape of public events in Canada remains contentious, particularly as it intersects with expressions of faith, politics, and community safety.
