Calgary Pastor’s Verdict for Drag Storytime Protest Delayed as Judge Reopens Case

The Calgary skyline in a file photo. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

A ruling on the case of a Calgary pastor who protested a library drag queen storytime event has been postponed, as the case has been reopened for reconsideration.

Derek Reimer was arrested following his protest at Calgary’s Seton Library on Feb. 25, 2023. He was charged with causing a disturbance and mischief.

“The judge is open to more ‘free speech arguments’ from my lawyer,” Mr. Reimer told The Epoch Times via email on July 2, the day he was expecting a verdict. Mr. Reimer added that he is not, however, pleased with the delay as he will remain under bail conditions.

“Keeping me on bail holds more power than even a guilty verdict. These are minor charges ... even if convicted, it would be a ’short and sharp sentence' around a month,” he said. He is awaiting a new hearing in September.

The prosecutors declined to comment on the case as the matter is before the court.

His bail conditions include staying 300 metres away from any events organized by the LGBTQ community. Mr. Reimer says he plans to continue his protests once his bail conditions are lifted.

He would still potentially face fines up to $10,000 and/or a year in prison under a Calgary’s “Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw,” passed by city council last March in reaction to protests at drag events, including Mr. Reimer’s. It prohibits such protests within 100 metres of an entrance to a city-operated recreation facility or library.

Mr. Reimer’s position is that this bylaw violates Charter freedoms and he is currently fighting it in a separate court battle. City council has defended the bylaw, saying it applies only to protests that take aim at characteristics protected under the Human Rights Act and does not prohibit protest, only limits it within the boundary around these facilities.

Library Protest

Mr. Reimer was charged with one count of causing a disturbance and one count of mischief for a Feb. 25, 2023 protest at Seton Library in Calgary during a drag queen storytime event. It was these charges he expected a verdict for this week.

He has three more trials ahead in August for eight other charges related to similar incidents that took place between March 25 and April 2, 2023: five counts of breaching a release order, two counts of causing a disturbance, and one count of criminal harassment.

Calgary police described the Feb. 25 Seton Library incident as “hate-motivated” in a press release at the time.

“Several individuals aggressively entered a library classroom, shouting homophobic and transphobic slurs at the children and parents in attendance, scaring the children while causing a disturbance and subsequently refusing to leave,” the release said.

“Two people in attendance at the event assisted library staff in removing the disruptive individuals from the classroom while waiting for police to arrive,” it continued.

Mr. Reimer rejects the characterization that he “aggressively walked in,” saying he “simply walked in.” He said it’s “dramatic and speculative” to say he scared children. He said he aims to protect children from “being groomed and sexualized.”

“It’s an erroneous allegation that I hate homosexuals. I’m a Christian who loves people, but isn’t afraid to address sin,” he said.

The Epoch Times asked Calgary police last year to elaborate on the case, but received a response that no further comment was possible as the case was before the courts.