A sign placed in downtown Kelowna caused a stir ahead of the holiday season this December. 

Each year, the Knights of Columbus put up a nativity scene display as part of the downtown Christmas decorations. The Knights go through a permitting process to do this, according to the City of Kelowna. 

This year, a sign saying 香蕉视频直播淜eep Christ in Christmas香蕉视频直播� was part of the display, causing concern among some people in the community, including the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA). 

According to the city, the sign wasn香蕉视频直播檛 part of the permit. It was taken down on Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

On Monday, Dec. 9, (KASHA) expressed in a letter that it understands the nativity scene is part of Christmas symbols like 香蕉视频直播渓ights, festive trees, and other decorative displays.香蕉视频直播� But KASHA had concerns with the 香蕉视频直播淜eep Christ in Christmas香蕉视频直播� sign. 

香蕉视频直播淭his message is not merely festive 香蕉视频直播� it is political, advocating for a specific religious interpretation of the holiday,香蕉视频直播� said KASHA in its letter to Black Press Media. 

香蕉视频直播淚t may appear inoffensive and inconsequential for the city to endorse one religion so overtly. But it is important to understand that this does impact people of other faiths, and people who have no religious beliefs. It makes them feel less Canadian.香蕉视频直播� 

The Knights of Columbus has no comment regarding the matter. 

Two days later, on Dec. 12, the conversation around the sign continued, as Kelowna-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen went to social media to express her opinion. 

香蕉视频直播淲e believe that it香蕉视频直播檚 an important detail that Christmas is a Christian holiday,香蕉视频直播� said Loewen in her video, referring to 香蕉视频直播榳e香蕉视频直播� as all of the MLAs for the Central Okanagan. 

香蕉视频直播淲e will be standing united and defending all British Columbians rights to religion and freedom of expression, speech, thought, belief,香蕉视频直播� she added. 

香蕉视频直播淐anada is an incredible country full of diverse cultures and religions, and a wide variety of views, and I think that香蕉视频直播檚 one of the things that makes us so incredible.香蕉视频直播� 

Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong agreed with her fellow Conservative, quote-tweeting the video and saying 香蕉视频直播渁 great message from a colleague and friend. I香蕉视频直播檓 proud to be part of a team that stands for what香蕉视频直播檚 right.香蕉视频直播� 

Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna, also quote-tweeted Loewen香蕉视频直播檚 post. Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew appears to not have commented on social media but reached out to Capital News. 

香蕉视频直播淚t shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be divisive to say that Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday marking the rededication of the Second Temple. Vaisakhi is a Sikh holiday commemorating the creation of the Khalsa. These are simply factual statements. While we香蕉视频直播檙e at it, Labour Day recognizes the contributions of workers, and Remembrance Day honours those who gave their lives in services,香蕉视频直播� said Dew. 

香蕉视频直播淲hether you light advent candles or incense or diyas or a menorah 香蕉视频直播� or none of the above 香蕉视频直播� the great thing about religious freedom in Canada is that we can acknowledge and respect and join in each other香蕉视频直播檚 traditions if we choose to do so.香蕉视频直播� 

Capital News reached out to Loewen for further comment but was met with an automatic e-mail reply. Additionally, the City of Kelowna stated it had no comment on Loewen香蕉视频直播檚 video. 

However, Ian Bushfield the executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association did have a comment. 

香蕉视频直播淔reedom of religion in Canada includes freedom from religion,香蕉视频直播� said Bushfield in an e-mailed statement. 香蕉视频直播淢s. Loewen and all Christians are obviously free to celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday but our governments have a clear duty of religious neutrality. That means neither endorsing nor prohibiting any religion over any other. That sign, and arguably even the nativity scene, being on public property breaches that duty. She can put the sign up at her church or at her own house but we do not live in a theocracy.香蕉视频直播� 

Bushfield has previously stated that BCHA is an organization committed to secular values. 

香蕉视频直播淧art of that is the separation of religion and government,香蕉视频直播� said Bushfield. 

The City of Kelowna also said it received five letters on the matter when the sign was up but none after the taken down. 

This was 香蕉视频直播 most read story of the year.