Sean Feucht’s concert in West Kelowna this weekend has been cancelled.
The City of West Kelowna said today the Christian singer’s show, scheduled to take place at the Memorial Park Amphitheatre on Saturday, would not be issued a permit due to concerns about "public safety."
"The City, with assistance from the RCMP and West Kelowna Fire Rescue, reassessed the safety and security plans submitted by the organizer and determined the potential public safety risks have not been appropriately mitigated," the City told KelownaNow in an emailed statement.
The musician, who is associated with the Republican Party in the US, has been targeted by some groups and individuals during his tour of Canada. Several of his concerts have been cancelled amid public pressure.
Last month, the City said it had “increased concerns” about public safety during the show.
Feucht has yet to react to the news, but said in a social media post today: “It’s wild watching ‘Christian’ mayors across Canada cancel outdoor worship services ‘for safety reasons’ while allowing mass protests and pride events in their cities.”
He has previously said the decisions to cancel his gigs are likely to “backfire.”
Premier David Eby has been among those to criticize Feucht, saying he doesn't “agree with the message that he’s promoting.”
The Kelowna Pride Society has also voiced concern, claiming Feucht is aligned with “far-right” movements and has voiced his opposition to “queer rights.”
Advocacy Canada, an LGBT organization led by Kelowna activist Wilbur Turner, has also attacked Feucht and called for the concert to be cancelled.
Feucht, the group said, “is a controversial figure whose rhetoric and activism are widely considered harmful to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”
The singer has had a number of supporters, however, including John Carpay from the legal group Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.
He told KelownaNow earlier this month: “You can't pick and choose and say, well, [the] only people allowed to sing here are those who align with our, you know, CBC, Liberal, NDP values. And we're gonna exclude people that might have a conservative or a Christian or a libertarian perspective.”
The Canadian Constitution Foundation has also objected to the treatment of the American performer, warning that it could represent a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
KelownaNow has requested an interview with Feucht.
