A tale of two cities has just presented itself a few days before Advent, offering contrasting approaches to the coming Christmas season.
- In Canada’s largest city, Toronto City Council voted to commemorate the final month of the year as Christian Heritage Month.
- In B.C.’s largest city, a member of the Vancouver Police Board was pressured to resign for expressing her views on such topics as Christianity, immigration, culture, and transgenderism.
Canada is clearly trying to sort out where it stands on issues like freedom of expression and religious rights. The Toronto example makes a case for confronting restrictions and woke culture.
Molly Banerjei, co-founder of the Christian Music Festival in Toronto, says she faced more resistance than ever this year trying to find a venue for the festival. So she launched a campaign to promote Christian Heritage Month in cities across the country.
More than 30 municipalities, including Prince George and Whistler in B.C., have declared December Christian Heritage Month, and organizers are now appealing to federal and provincial governments to do the same.
In the words of The Catholic Register in reporting the story, “the script was officially flipped, and this grassroots effort attained its most seismic victory to date”
Contrast that with Vancouver, where Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba was forced off the Vancouver Police Board for “expressing concerns shared by millions” of Canadians, says the Church for Vancouver blog.
Church for Vancouver Publisher Flyn Ritchie describes what happened.
“Did she jump, or was she pushed? Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba left her position as Vice Chair of the Vancouver Police Board November 22, following an outraged response to a statement she posted on Instagram.”
Ritchie notes that CKNW radio host (and former BC Liberal MLA) Jas Johal tweeted her comment, saying, “When you sit on the Vancouver Police Board you are representing a multi-ethnic police force which serves and protects a diverse city. I hope Vice Chair Comfort Salome-Fadugba [sic] can clarify her comments to taxpayers.”
Sakoma-Fadugba, who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria as a child, introduced her comment by saying, “I’m going to get very vocal about things happening in Canada, and it’s OK if it upsets some people.”
Ritchie recounts how she “reflected was:
“Years ago I warned that people were losing the ability to define what it truly means to be Canadian. Take 10 random people off the street, and we can’t identify a common food, sport or pastime that unites us. The implications of an immigration system that allowed for mass immigration without considering cultural integration, combined with a growing aversion to assimilation, are slowly transforming Canada into a place where a shared identity is disappearing.”
Ritchie writes that a Nov. 23 CBC News story about her resignation highlighted the areas of controversy in her statement. One post discussed how “mass immigration” and “a growing aversion to assimilation” are “transforming Canada into a place where a shared identity is disappearing.”
Another post questioned Diwali celebrations at schools, saying the “push for secular education isn’t about religion – it’s about erasing Christian values from the lives of our children.”
A third post mentioned “gender transitions” and criticized a “woke culture that pits children against their parents.”
Another said Christian values serve as Canada’s moral compass and asked what would happen to the country if a different religion became more dominant.
Sakoma-Fadugba told CBC News the quotes don’t “capture the entirety of the conversation” and “I’m genuinely sorry that it has caused so much harm,” she said. “That was not my intent.”
Ritchie summarizes some of the condemnation she received:
• Vancouver Police Board chair Frank Chong said her statements “do not reflect the values of the board and are inconsistent with our code of conduct” and requested her resignation.
• Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said her views do not reflect his beliefs, nor the policies of the police board, adding, “As public leaders, it’s our responsibility to bring people together and focus on what unites us, not what divides us.”
• Garry Begg, B.C.’s Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety, said the comments “spread hate and division amongst communities and they will not be tolerated.”
• Elenore Sturko, BC Conservative MLA for South Surrey (a former Liberal Party MLA and before that an RCMP officer), focused on the transgender issue, saying, “When we have statements being made that erode the public’s trust, or their comfort with their police service, it makes it that much harder on the front-line officers.”
Ironically, wrote Ritchie, “the Vancouver Police Board had welcomed Sakoma-Fadugba with these words in a January 20, 2022 tweet: ‘She brings an impressive background in business, community service and expanding equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of life. We look forward to her contributions to the governance of @VancouverPD.’”
In a Nov. 24 Instagram post, Sakoma-Fadugba said she had not been fairly represented in the media:
“In this beautiful land, where diverse cultures create a vibrant mosaic, the spirit of openness should thrive. Yet, a troubling undercurrent of suppression stifles free expression. Freedom of speech is often touted as a fundamental right, but it comes with invisible chains that bind those who voice dissenting opinions. Many find themselves silenced by fear of backlash and vilification.
“Over 20 media platforms have covered my story, yet only two have sought my perspective. This trend reveals a concerning willingness to amplify narratives without engaging in meaningful dialogue. Notably, after a 20-minute interview with CBC, none of my meaningful points were included.
“I faced pressure to resign from the Vancouver Police Board for expressing concerns shared by millions, including the National Leader of the Conservative Party. This reflects a broader issue where legitimate concerns can lead to repercussions, eroding the foundations of our society.
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of Canadians from coast to coast who have sent me messages of support. Your encouragement means the world to me. I love this country and will fight for it because my son deserves to grow up in a place where everyone can thrive authentically, without fear of persecution.”
Among her supporters was BC Conservative MLA Bryan Tepper, who called for the police board “to review its handling of the matter.”
In a Nov. 25 post on X, he wrote, “I am deeply concerned by the news of Ms. Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba’s forced resignation from the Vancouver Police Board. In a free and democratic society, no one should feel afraid to peacefully defend their own faith or to express other genuinely held views on matters of public interest.
“Our community thrives when we embrace a diversity of viewpoints, fostering an environment of mutual understanding and peace. I urge the Vancouver Police Board to review its handling of the matter and to explore conciliatory measures with Ms. Sakoma-Fadugba.”
Ritchie noted many comments after a Vancouver Sun article were also heavily supportive.
In a response to her critics, Sakoma-Fadugba wrote that their behaviour is contrary to the Christian values they are criticizing her for. “As Proverbs 24:17-18 reminds us, ‘Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.’”
Near the end of her post she writes, “The reason we’re such a forgiving society – one that believes in taking care of the least among us – is because Christianity, at its core, is a religion built on forgiveness. The entire objective of being Christian is to find forgiveness and offer it to others. Our tolerance as a nation comes from the biblical principle of not judging others because we ourselves are imperfect. . . .
“God help Canada and our government as they dig us out of the hole they’ve put us in.”
It should be noted that Toronto’s support for Christian Heritage Month wasn’t without controversy.
“An emotionally heated debate between councillors preceded the evening vote,” reported The Register.
“Councillor Gord Perks, during a lengthy diatribe, declared ‘that Canada as an entity is soaked and steeped in the Christian church, they do not need separate recognition.’ He said when the city does something like ‘recognize a different group,’ such as Sikh Heritage Month or Hindu Heritage Month, it is an ‘effort to rebalance.’
“Perks then encouraged his colleagues to vote down the motion ‘“Christian Heritage’ is not a neutral phrase in the Canadian political landscape,” alluding to the pro-life, socially conservative Christian Heritage Party.
“That party is anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, says that Islam is a threat to democracy, denies that climate change is caused by CO2,” said Perks. He also said,
The politician also suggested that “if you really want to go down the rabbit hole,” to Google the phrase “Christian Heritage Front.”
The Register noted in its story that it was just a year ago that the Canadian Human Rights Commission declared statutory holidays such as Christmas a manifestation of the “discrimination against religious minorities in Canada” and “grounded in Canada’s history of colonialism.”
Critics called it a striking example of rising anti-Christian hostility in the public square.
It looks like the debate is being played out as we speak.
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