Date: Thursday, June 16, 2022

Files: 22-22320, 22-22351

Victoria, BC – VicPD officers are investigating after a local business reported receiving phone calls targeting them for hosting an upcoming family-friendly drag show.

Patrol officers responded to two separate reports from staff at a business in the 900-block of Kings Road who received concerning and threatening phone calls yesterday. The callers specifically mentioned an upcoming family-friendly drag event. The comments received caused concern for the safety of staff, event participants and guests.

Event organizers have informed officers that as a result of these calls, this event has been cancelled.

“It is very disappointing to learn of these deeply concerning calls and the impact that they have had on staff, event organizers and those who were looking forward to this event,” Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee Co-chair and VicPD Staff Sergeant Jennifer Ames said. “Hate has no place in Victoria. We want those who were looking forward to this event to know that we’re responding to ensure that they are safe and that we hope for the return of this event.”

Officers are continuing to investigate. We have reached out to staff at the business and the event organizers to keep them updated and supported.

If you have information about these incidents and have not yet spoken to officers, please call the VicPD Report Desk and (250) 995-7654, extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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