Christian ministry plans free public worship event in Moncton
Burn 24/7 Canada Worship Ministries Society is a Christian non-profit organization that hosts worship and prayer events across Canada.
In the spring of 2025, the Society organized the “Let Us Worship” tour, featuring American musician Sean Feucht. As part of the tour, the Society planned a free public event focused on worship and the Gospel message at Riverfront Park in Moncton, New Brunswick, on July 24, 2025.
The City of Moncton approved the Society’s application on April 30, 2025. Over the following months, organizers worked with City staff on logistical arrangements, including site planning, insurance, washroom facilities, water access, and scheduling. The Society complied with every request made by the City.
City cancels event two days before it was scheduled
On July 22, 2025, just two days before the event, the City abruptly cancelled the booking.
The City cited its Code of Conduct in City Facilities and concerns about public safety arising from planned protests.
The Society says the planned event complied with the City’s policies and that organizers had developed their own security plan. It states that the cancellation resulted from anticipated opposition to the event rather than from any conduct by the organizers themselves.
With the event only days away, the Society had to find another location.
Last-minute relocation leads to dramatic drop in attendance
The Society secured an alternative venue at Bar None Camp in Taxis River, New Brunswick, only hours before the event was scheduled to begin.
However, the remote location and last-minute change had a significant impact. Attendance dropped from an expected 1,000 people to approximately 200. The Society also experienced reduced donations and additional expenses associated with relocating the event.
City yielded to a “heckler’s veto”
The Society argues that the City effectively yielded to a “heckler’s veto” rather than protecting peaceful expression and failed to work with organizers to address legitimate safety concerns before cancelling the booking.
Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury said, “This case concerns a basic constitutional principle: governments cannot suppress peaceful expression simply because others threaten to protest it.”
He added, “Public officials have a duty to protect freedom of expression, not surrender it to those who oppose a speaker’s message.”
Legal action seeks protection for freedom of expression
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre filed a Statement of Claim on behalf of Burn 24/7 Canada Worship Ministries Society against the City of Moncton.
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the City violated the Society’s freedom of expression protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, along with $50,000 in Charter damages. The Society is also asking the Court to make no order as to costs, regardless of the outcome, because it argues that the case raises important public interest issues.
