West Kelowna is one of seven municipalities identified by a secular organization for allowing prayer at a council meeting in contravention of a Supreme Court of Canada (SCOC) ruling.

A report by the BC Humanist Association (BCHA) states a prayer was offered by the Fire Department Chaplin during West Kelowna council香蕉视频直播檚 inaugural meeting on Nov. 1, 2022, which is confirmed in meeting minutes on the city香蕉视频直播檚 website.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e an organization committed to secular values,香蕉视频直播� said Ian Bushfield, BCHA executive director. 香蕉视频直播淧art of that is the separation of religion and government.香蕉视频直播�

The report references a 2015 SCOC ruling that 香蕉视频直播榦pening municipal council meetings with a prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the state香蕉视频直播檚 duty of religious neutrality.香蕉视频直播�

It stems from a 2006 complaint by a Saguenay, Quebec resident who raised a concern about the opening of municipal council meetings with prayer.

Bushfield said the report, titled 香蕉视频直播榃e Yelled At Them Until They Stopped香蕉视频直播�, is a result of research of inaugural council meetings across B.C. in 2018 and 2022.

Of 162 municipalities identified, 26 included prayers in 2018 and seven in 2022, which included West Kelowna, Vancouver, Delta, Colwood, Belcarra, Parksville, and Tumbler Ridge.

Bushfield added the BCHA has reached out to councils that have previously included religious invocations at inaugural meetings.

香蕉视频直播淪ome gave the cursory 香蕉视频直播榤essage has been received香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈ウbut a number have actually responded quite positively to us.香蕉视频直播�

He said the BCHA has yet to reach out to West Kelowna council but will do so soon. 香蕉视频直播淎long with the others we identified, we香蕉视频直播檒l also do a follow-up with all municipalities before the 2026 inaugurals.香蕉视频直播�

Some councils have updated their bylaws or will no longer include prayers at inaugural meetings, Bushfield added.

Black Press contacted the City of West Kelowna for comment and received an emailed statement.

香蕉视频直播淲e appreciate the feedback and have noted it for council and staff consideration.香蕉视频直播�

The report also noted a significant increase in Indigenous content at council meetings, rising from 39 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in 2022.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a complex thing that we don香蕉视频直播檛 have strong recommendations on but we are exploring,香蕉视频直播� Bushfield said. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to make sure we香蕉视频直播檙e sensitive to all of the history and importance of reconciliation.香蕉视频直播�

Bushfield added the BCHA is pleased to see the growth in these practices and hopes municipalities follow up symbolic measures with substantive action.

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