 Sept20_2023 (2).png)
The Freedom Patriots of Saskatchewan are bringing two speakers to Swift Current next week for a public forum at InnovationPlex advertised as discussing ‘complexities of gender dysphoria and affirmation therapy.’
Booked for the Curling Rink lounge next Wednesday, the forum troubles some Swift Current residents due to the mention of conversion therapy on its poster.
The event is called 'A Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Public Forum - Protect All Children with Dr. Ann Gillies (Trauma Specialist, Author, Speaker) and Wilna van Beek (Speaker, Author).’
After receiving multiple reports of concern from citizens, the Swift Current City RCMP shared officers are currently investigating the function.
Officers were unable to provide any further information on the matter due to the ongoing investigation.
Swift Current Online reached out to the Freedom Patriots about the RCMP investigation and has yet to receive a response.
Southwest Saskatchewan Pride did comment, expressing concern about Dr. Ann Gillies coming to the community, and the forum being held on City property.
“We firmly believe in freedom of expression; it's a right afforded to all Canadians and one [upon] which democracy depends,” Board member Shaun Hanna said. “But make no mistake, the promotion of conversion therapy has no place in Canadian society. It's a torturous, dangerous and criminal act in Canada. This much is not up for debate.
“Unfortunately, we are working with imperfect information here. We do not know, for example, the specific content of Miss Gillies's speech. However, we do know that we're dealing with somebody who has no issue misrepresenting herself in public. Miss Gillies has been denounced by both the courts and by the Psychological Association of Alberta as being an unaccredited, unlicensed individual spouting openly hostile, transphobic garbage," added Hanna.
“And regardless of her proposed or self-reported topic of speech, a topic which again, I assure you, she is in no way qualified to offer any relevant or cogent opinion on, this is a situation where, in our view, as the Ontario courts put it in Gillies versus Blue Water District School Board, the dots may be readily connected and the direction in which those lines are headed is self-evident.
“This kind of rhetoric has no place in our community," Hanna stated.
The City of Swift Current also declined comment on the function being held on City property.
Swift Current Online will provide an updated story should we receive comments from the Freedom Patriots regarding the RCMP investigation.
In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, Swift Current Online encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the Swift Current Online app.