By Pepper Parr
February 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The pressure must have been big time.
Penny Hersh, along with the Mayor and we think the city’s legal counsel, determined that an event scheduled by a Muslin Group known as i3 that was to take place at the Burlington Convention Centre has been cancelled by the Convention Centre management.
Set out below is the letter that was sent.
The i3 group did ask for people to be in touch with them earlier in the month – to the best of our knowledge they didn’t receive one call.
Will this further strain realtionships with the Muslim community
Editor: When we met with the Burlington Convention Centre we were asked not to reveal what had been discussed in the meeting. You fail to mention that you were the first to be informed about this conference and its cancellation.
Time to set the record straight.
This is not true. It was a grass roots effort with many many voices involved. Naming one person is akin to putting a target on her back. This lacks journalistic integrity and is so disappointing. Is it your position that the event should have gone forward? That Mohammad Hajib should be able to preach that sex with minors should be accepted in Canada? He preaches death to Christians, Jews, Hindus and the gay community. Did YOU do your research Mr. Parr? They chose Burlington because they counted on weak leaders and a woke press to do nothing. You should be thanking her, no maligning her. Shame on you.
For the record there were 3 of us who met with senior management at the Burlington Convention Centre.
We were informed at that meeting that they were well aware of the outcry from the community and had been working with the Global Imam Association, the Halton Police, and their legal department.
This had been happening days before we met with them..
Credit needs to be given to the management of the Burlington Convention Centre for taking the time to investigate this group, the keynote speaker and decide that they did not want to be associated with this conference.
It took more than 1 person to make this happen and there were many others who felt as strongly and had the courage to do what they thought was right for our community.
I am certain that some may feel differently.
Editor’s note: Ms Hersh of course did not share any of this information when asked.
For the record it was not our Mayor or the City’s Legal Counsel who were involved in the cancellation of the Reviving Roots Conference.
The mayor in her statement indicated that this type of conference that demeans others is not acceptable.
It was the Burlington Convention Centre working with the Global Imam Association, the Halton Police Department and the Centre’s legal counsel who worked together to decide this conference was not in the best interest for the City of Burlington and its residents.
I want to thank the Burlington Convention Centre for working with these organizations to cancel this event.
Editor’s note: Ms Hersh met with senior management at the Convention Centre to advocate for cancelling the event. My sense was that without her advocacy the Convention Centre may not have known about the group or its purpose.
Good news .Keep this type away from our community.