Latest news with #PlateauMontRoyal
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Montreal fines local church for hosting MAGA-affiliated musician Sean Feucht
The City of Montreal has fined a local church for hosting a concert by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. Feucht's controversial views and his status as a rising star in the MAGA movement have led officials to cancel his concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days. But on Friday evening, an evangelical church in Montreal allowed Feucht to perform a hastily scheduled concert over the objections of the city administration, and is now facing a $2,500 fine. A spokesperson for Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the Ministerios Restauración Church in the city's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough did not have a permit to organize a concert, and had been informed that the event could not take place. 'This show runs counter to the values of inclusion, solidarity, and respect that are championed in Montreal. Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not acceptable in Montreal,' Philippe Massé said in a statement. 'A ticket was issued because the organization violated the regulations by going ahead with the show.' MAGA-affiliated American musician faces wave of cancellations on eastern Canadian tour Protesters gathered outside the church during the concert Friday evening. Montreal police say they arrested a 38-year-old man for obstruction. They also say a smoke bomb was set off inside the church during Feucht's performance. Feucht reacted Saturday on social media to the events in Montreal, claiming that two smoke bombs were thrown at his head during the concert. 'Now you want (to) fine the church for doing what the church does - WORSHIP,' he said on X. 'Every Canadian should be embarrassed/concerned with this. No bigger scandal in Canada.' The church did not respond to requests for comment from The Canadian Press. Feucht was scheduled to perform east of Ottawa in Alfred, Ont. on Saturday afternoon, before moving on to the Toronto area on Sunday. The Christian singer describes himself as a musician, missionary, author and activist. He has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community, and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The Atlantic magazine, based in Washington, D.C., recently described Feucht as a Christian nationalist who has become a 'MAGA superstar.' 'Between praising President Donald Trump as God's chosen one and suggesting that abortion supporters are 'demons,' Feucht has repeatedly advocated for the fusion of church and state,' the article says. Complaints from residents and planned protests have prompted officials to cancel all six of the concerts scheduled as part of the eastern Canadian leg of Feucht's 'Revive in 25' tour over the last week, forcing him to seek alternate venues. A guide to Trumpism's online universe, from Kick to Rumble to Truth Social On Tuesday, Parks Canada announced it had revoked a permit for a performance scheduled at a national historic site in Halifax, citing 'heightened public safety concerns.' Concerts have since been cancelled in Charlottetown, Moncton, N.B., Quebec City, Gatineau, Que. and Vaughan, Ont. Feucht announced his Montreal concert venue on Thursday, after his planned Friday show in Quebec City was cancelled. A second spokesperson for Plante said the show was scheduled at the 'last minute without notice.' The singer says he's the victim of 'Christian persecution,' and is accusing Canada of tyranny and censorship. 'A couple crazy activists started raising up all of this ruckus across Canada, and one by one all of our permits were cancelled out of safety concerns,' he said in a social media video posted Friday night following the Montreal performance. 'Here we are in the middle of a firestorm.' Feucht still has a series of concerts scheduled in western Canada in August.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Montreal plans to shut down ‘MAGA superstar' singer's show over lack of permit
Christian musician Sean Feucht of California sings to the crowd during a rally at the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) The City of Montreal confirmed it plans to shut down a concert by a U.S.-based Christian musician who has been described as a 'MAGA superstar,' saying the venue does not hold proper permits. Six dates of Sean Feucht's Canadian tour have been cancelled so far. His concerts in Quebec City, Gatineau, Charlottetown, and Halifax were all cancelled earlier this week. Event organizers said the events were called off after complaints and reports of planned protests. The controversial singer was scheduled to put on a show at the Ministerios Restauración Church in the Plateau-Mont-Royal at 7 p.m. Friday night. A spokesperson for the city told CTV News that the church 'does not have a permit to organize a concert, and district inspectors have notified the owners that the event cannot take place.' But Feucht posted on social media that 'The church IS NOT BACKING DOWN!!!' and it's 'time to take a stand for the gospel in Canada!' They are now pressuring, threatening & attacking the Spanish pastor of the cathedral (built in the 1930's) we are at tonight in Montreal. It's a moment of decision for the spiritual leaders of this nation. Will they arise in boldness? — Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) July 25, 2025 Show goes against Montreal`s values of 'inclusion, solidarity and respect,' city says The city said police have been mobilized to enforce regulations and 'violation notices will be issued if the concert goes ahead.' A spokesperson for Montreal police (SPVM) said officers have been on-site since this afternoon and are monitoring the situation. Feucht's has been outspoken against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community and met with American President Donald Trump during his first term. He also protested government restrictions during the pandemic and is known to go on political and religious rants during his concerts. Montreal said the show goes against the city's values of 'inclusion, solidarity and respect.' Over the last few days, he has been taking to social media to call out what he says is 'the outright persecution and censorship of a Christians in Canada.' Rebel News launched an online petition to 'protect the right for Christians to worship in Canada' after his shows were cancelled. 'Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal. As in other Canadian cities, this show will not be tolerated,' said a spokesperson for Montreal in a text message. With files from CTV News Montreal's Max Harrold
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
City of Montreal intends to shut down MAGA-affiliated musician's concert
The City of Montreal intends to shut down a performance by Sean Feucht, a controversial Christian rock musician and rising star in the MAGA movement. Feucht, who is scheduled to perform Friday evening in a church in Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal borough has expressed anti-diversity, anti-2SLGBTQ+ and anti-women's rights views on his platforms. In recent days, Feucht has dealt with several cancellations on his Canadian tour, including in Quebec City. Following the cancellation in Quebec City, Feucht announced that he had found an alternate venue — the church in Montreal. Catherine Cadotte, a spokperson for the Montreal mayor's office, told CBC News that the show "goes against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect" and that the venue would be advised that the concert cannot take place. "Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal and, as in other Canadian cities, the show will not be tolerated," she wrote in French. But when asked specifically why the city would try to cancel the show, she specified that the church does not have the permits to use its venue for a show. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Feucht wrote the church wasn't backing down, and told his followers it was time to "take a stand for the gospel in Canada." It wasn't clear however if he was referring to the city's plans to stop his performance. When he announced his Canadian tour, Feucht stated in a promotional video that he had made it his mission to save Canada and that through him, hundreds of believers would be freed, healed, and delivered.
CBC
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Montreal mural honours Hugo Houle, the first Quebecer to win a stage in Tour de France
The mural is located on a roof in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough and pays tribute to Houle's 2022 Tour de France stage win. It also commemorates Houle's late brother, who died in a tragic accident.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crumbling Montreal building slated for demolition forces 2nd evacuation this year
Having just moved into his new apartment in June, Charles Emond had barely finished unpacking his belongings when he was told by the Montreal fire department last Friday to pack up and get out. He said he and the other tenants were told they had 15 minutes to leave the building at 5980-5982 Park Ave. in Montreal's Plateau–Mont-Royal borough. "It was my first apartment with my girlfriend, so it was something special," he said on Monday. "The last three or four days have been the most stressful of my life." Emond was part of the latest round of tenants forced to evacuate their homes over the past four months, all due to a crumbling structure sitting adjacent to them. Part of the exterior wall of the derelict building at 5986-5992 Park Ave. collapsed in March, forcing the tenants living in the building next door to the left out of their homes. Last Friday, Montreal firefighters responded to a call just after 2 p.m. after someone noticed bricks falling off the crumbling building's opposite wall, and ordered the evacuation of Emond's building — next door to the right — due to the "imminent risk of a collapse," according to Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) spokesperson Guy Lapointe. With the two buildings now sitting empty, Plateau–Mont-Royal borough mayor Luc Rabouin says it's a matter of weeks before the derelict building sandwiched between them finally comes down. But with little faith in the borough's ability or willingness to accommodate tenants given the experience of those two doors down, Emond and his partner decided to break their lease and move into another apartment offered to them by their landlord. Displaced tenants from the evacuation Friday were under the care of the Red Cross for three days. Those that are still unhoused are now being accompanied by the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal. It can't, however, provide subsidized units to tenants whose revenue is too high, it said in a statement. 'A landlord who is playing cat and mouse' During a borough council meeting Monday, Rabouin said the borough will carry out the demolition of the building at 5986-5992 Park Ave. if its owners don't, adding that an engineering firm is expected to provide a plan by the end of the week. "We're dealing with a landlord who is playing cat and mouse with us, who is very difficult to reach, who gives us signs of good intentions that ultimately don't come true," he said. The building administrators, Daniel Lalonde and Jonathan Pigeon, had committed to demolishing the property on June 2, according to Rabouin. That was after the borough says it had to hire a private investigator to serve them a demolition order. Reached by CBC on Tuesday, Pigeon says he and his partner were not negligent and that there was no private investigator. He said his office had simply changed addresses and that he signed the borough's documents electronically. He blames the borough for the delay. "Everyone is in communication, there was never a cat and mouse [game], the demolition process is going well, the contract has already been awarded," he wrote in French in a text message to CBC. He said the demolition will take place after preparations for the site are complete, which is "supposed to happen shortly." LI In April 2023, an engineer assessed the building for Habitat 237 Grande-Île S.E.N.C., the company owned by Pigeon and Lalonde to which the building is registered. The building was already vacant at that point following a fire, according to the report, which CBC obtained through an access to information request. The report detailed unstable and degraded foundation walls and detached brick cladding, among other concerns. "We demand that this building be unoccupied and demolished as quickly as possible in accordance with city requirements," it concluded. "Major intervention on a portion of the existing structure is not acceptable or feasible." A month earlier, the borough had issued a notice to the owners flagging a couple building maintenance infractions. It cited its right to carry out the building's demolition at the owners' expense if they did not take the appropriate steps to secure the structure. Asked in May 2025 why the borough hadn't taken action, a spokesperson said intervening to demolish a building is an "exceptional step" that the borough had never taken before. Ian Cucurull, the owner of the building that was evacuated Friday, says he was lodging complaints to the city about the instability of the adjacent building as far back as 2021. "I complained to everyone," he said. "Everyone was in agreement that the bowing of the wall was very pronounced, dangerous even….We're now in 2025 and still, the building is still standing. I don't understand." Pigeon and Lalonde acquired the building in 2021 and began the process to obtain a demolition permit that same year, according to Pigeon. "We never abandoned the procedures, the city asked for new things every time to bring the building down," he said. The city has previously said the owners first applied for a demolition permit in 2023 and failed to follow up on the process when asked for additional documents. Cucurull says that up until recently, the borough had communicated with him that they were still considering issuing a call for tender for the demolition contract — a process that usually takes months. Rabouin said Monday that if the borough does end up carrying out the demolition, it will bypass that process to speed things up. "There was a wall that almost killed a tenant … it's not a joke," said Cucurull, referring to the partial collapse in March. "It's absolutely crazy and you can't demolish that building. I can't demolish that building. Only the city can do it." WATCH | Partial collapse of precarious building causes 1st emergency evacuation in March: Emond says he struggles to understand why it's taken the landlords so long to act. In the end, he chalks it up to them ultimately not caring about the impact the ordeal has had on vulnerable renters. Pigeon says it is due in part to the city recommending a contractor that was too expensive. Still, Emond says the harm done is significant. "In my perspective, I think it's just another building for them. It's just another investment for them. They don't really care. Like if they care, they would have done something in March," he said.
