Excerpt:
A free-speech rally did not take place in Grande Prairie on Saturday because the city cancelled its permit.
A local group called Concerned Canadians for Canadian Values had planned a "free speech rally opposing (the) M-103 Islamophobia motion" at the Muskoseepi Park amphitheatre. However, the group's organizer, Michael Carriere, was notified by email on Thursday the permit had been cancelled. City Manager Robert Nicolay told Carriere the event could be a threat to public safety.
"In light of recent conflicts around similar gatherings across Canada and in the US, it's not unreasonable to foresee that the proposed August 26th event may increase risk for participants, other users of Muskoseepi Park and the general public," Nicolay wrote in the email to Carriere. "In order to eliminate this particular risk, the City is choosing not to approve the park use permit for the proposed August 26th event and will not be approving the use of any other public land for the event."