Police investigating Halloween display with Confederate flag, hanging effigy in B.C. city
Warning: This story contains an image of the hanging effigy.
VANCOUVER -- Authorities have taken the unusual step of investigating a Halloween display after a Kelowna, B.C., home was allegedly decorated with a Confederate flag and hanging effigy.
The incident prompted a statement from Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, who thanked the city's RCMP detachment for opening an investigation into the "terrible public display."
"There's no place in Kelowna for this kind of racist imagery, which is hurtful to people of colour and all who cherish an inclusive community," Basran said.
Kelowna RCMP said a separate investigation has also been launched by city bylaw officers. The alleged effigy had been removed by the time bylaw officers visited the home, but the Confederate flag had not.
Authorities said they'll be asking the person responsible for the display to remove the flag as well once they make contact.
"We are taking this incident extremely seriously and are collectively working with city bylaws as to the appropriate course of action," RCMP Insp. Adam MacIntosh said in a statement. "These symbols only serve to fuel hatred and division and such behaviour cannot be tolerated in our community and society."
Kelowna RCMP did not indicate whether the display may have violated any laws, and has not responded to a request for comment from CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.