Some Joe Rich residents have taken to social media to voice concern about American Christian musician Sean Feucht's concert planned for Saturday.
The event on private property (17700 Greystokes Road) is a last-minute reschedule after the City of West 麻豆精选 denied a permit for Feucht to perform in Memorial Park on Aug. 23.
One Joe Rich resident voiced concerns "solely from a public safety standpoint鈥攖his isn鈥檛 political; it鈥檚 about protecting our community."
They noted that Highway 33 is down to one lane for night paving and that two other major events are planned for Big White and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Beaverdell this weekend.
There was also the concern of having the anticipated 2,000 people on a rural property during the height of wildfire season.
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The social media post urged other residents to contact the Regional District Central Okanagan with their concerns.
In a media statement, the RDCO said it was made aware of the event featuring Feucht earlier today (Aug. 22).
"We recognize that this event has generated public interest and concern. The event, as it has been announced by the organizers, will be held on private property and falls outside the scope of RDCO鈥檚 authority to regulate. The Joe Rich Rural Land Use Bylaw (No. 1195) does not require permits or approvals for free events held on private land," the statement said.
The RDCO added that while its authorities are limited in this regard, it remains committed to ensuring public safety.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and respond to any issues that fall within our role. As with any event, we will also continue to work with other agencies such as fire and the RCMP if the event impacts public safety."
Before the West 麻豆精选 show was cancelled, a Love Over Hate Rally was planned by Advocacy Canada at city hall, which was expected to draw approximately 1,000 people.
鈥淥ur main concern was it should not be platformed by taxpayers on public property, and because of the types of messaging that has been historically giving against the queer community,鈥� President Wilber Turner said. 鈥淪o private property is a different matter, as much as we don't like to hear about the message.鈥�
Turner said there are no plans by his organization to hold a rally at the Greystokes Rd. event.
鈥淚鈥檝e had some calls from folks that live in the Joe Rich area. They're really concerned about fire safety and congestion and those kinds of things, which I think are more things that the regional district needs to address.鈥�
Turner added he is not opposed to Feucht鈥檚 message because he鈥檚 a Christian.
鈥淚t's about the harm created by messaging that targets the LGBTQIA+ community, ,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose kinds of things that he has said in the past are very problematic because they are actually deeply harmful to a group of people that do come on, that do face discrimination.鈥�
Turner said such messaging is especially harmful for young people.
鈥淭his leads to self-harm, mental health issues, and even suicide. And so I think those are the things that need to be addressed when this kind of rhetoric gets out into the public.鈥�
He challenged those supporting Feucht, including politicians, on the basis of censorship, or a violation of charter rights for speech.
鈥淭he harm that those messages cause leaves an imbalance when it comes to political speech that seems to be just saying that he's being wronged without calling out why people are saying it or why people are very concerned about him being here.鈥�
