The Vancouver Canucks have parted company with the team鈥檚 anthem singer, Mark Donnelly, after he confirmed he will sing 鈥極 sa国际传媒鈥� Saturday at a downtown Vancouver rally to protest COVID-19 restrictions.
sa国际传媒 Christmas Freedom Rally 2020 is set to take place Saturday afternoon outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, the site of multiple anti-mask rallies held throughout the pandemic, often drawing an assortment of anti-mask and anti-vaccine advocates, conspiracy theorists and other far-right figures.
Shortly after Donnelly confirmed his plans, team owner Franceso Aquilini tweeted: 鈥淗ey @VancouverSun change the headline to 鈥楩ormer Canucks anthem singer.鈥� #wearamask.鈥�
Aquilini did not elaborate, but team officials confirmed the owner鈥檚 decision.
Earlier this month, a New Westminster man was arrested and charged with violating the Quarantine Act after bragging at a protest rally about his refusal to self-isolate after attending a flat-Earth conference in South Carolina.
Hey change the headline to "Former Canucks anthem singer."
鈥� Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini)
This particular rally, which includes a march at 1:30 p.m. and an onstage singalong to close the event, is seasonally inspired. An event poster shared on Facebook by organizer Ryan Kulbaba declares: 鈥淲e oppose government orders and will gather for the holidays!鈥�
British Columbians remain under stay-at-home orders and a mask mandate. Residents have been instructed to avoid social gatherings of all kinds and sizes as health officials work to suppress the second wave of COVID-19.
Kulbaba has been involved in several protests against COVID-19 restrictions. At an anti-mask demonstration in November, Kulbaba urged attendees to shop without masks and film their interactions with store managers.
The Surrey resident was also the lead organizer behind the sa国际传媒 Freedom Mega Rally, a two-day event outside the art gallery in October.
Kulbaba鈥檚 latest event drew a headliner. Donnelly, likely the city鈥檚 most recognizable anthem performer, will be singing 鈥極 sa国际传媒鈥� at noon and performing again just before 4 p.m., according to the rally鈥檚 itinerary.
Donnelly confirmed to Postmedia that he will sing at the controversial event.
鈥淚 sing 鈥極 sa国际传媒鈥� as a sign of unity and strength for all Canadians,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he true north strong and free.鈥�
The Vancouver Canucks organization distanced itself from the anthem singer in a statement released Friday afternoon.
鈥淢ark Donnelly is acting independently and we hope the public understands he is not representing the Vancouver Canucks,鈥� said chief operating officer Trent Carroll. 鈥淲e encourage everyone to wear a mask and to follow the provincial health orders.鈥�
