Calgary concert cancellation prompts kirpan review
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 | 10:22 AM MT
CBC News
Calgary city council wants a standard policy on kirpans at civic facilities following the cancellation of a summer concert by a legendary Punjabi singer.
An August concert at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre featuring Gurdas Maan was cancelled at the last minute after about 10 men were refused entrance because they were carrying kirpans, a small ceremonial dagger.
On Monday, council unanimously voted to request a report by March on the issue.
Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart said the incident at the convention centre shows there needs to be uniform rules for all city facilities.
"We really need to take a hard look at the kirpan policy, with any civic partner that we have, and so I was pleased today that council approved that unanimously, to do that in consultation with the Sikh community," she said.
Until now, there's been no mechanism to review such incidents, she said.
"I wish there was some investigative body that could look at this incident because it was a black eye to the Telus Convention Centre and ultimately the City of Calgary, and we can't have incidents of this nature happening."
The sold-out event was packed with 2,500 people and another 500 were waiting in line when the decision was made to close it down at 9:30 p.m.
