Local Churches to Host 'Burn Canada' Revival Event at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park
A Burn Canada worship event is planned for Owen Sound on Saturday. Though local organizers call it grassroots, it’s promoted nationally under a tour led by American Christian nationalist Sean Feucht.
A travelling Christian revival tour fronted by American Christian nationalist Sean Feucht is set to stop in Owen Sound on Saturday, with a full-day event planned at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park.
While the tour has drawn controversy and cancellations in other Canadian cities, Owen Sound officials appear satisfied with assurances from local organizers that the event is a locally-led gathering. Feucht is not scheduled to appear in Owen Sound, but has been actively promoting the tour and its events.
Feucht, a former Republican congressional candidate, is a missionary and author known for his public opposition to abortion rights, critical race theory, and 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion. He has called for U.S. government policy to reflect traditional Christian values, describing the country as being in a “spiritual war.”
Now, he’s travelling across Canada as the summer headliner and de facto spokesperson for ‘Burn Canada.’
The revival series has faced backlash in several Canadian cities, prompting cancellations as municipalities and venue operators responded to public complaints and safety concerns.
All six Eastern Canada venues where Feucht himself was to play in the first leg of his tour have rescinded their rental agreements following police consultations and public safety concerns, according to the National Post.
Tim Simmonds, City Manager for Owen Sound, told The Owen Sound Current, “A local individual booked the picnic shelter, amphitheatre and stage for a local multi-denominational church event for Kelso Beach at Nawash Park on July 26.”
The local organizer has signed a rental contract and is required to provide insurance, “as well as to comply with all City bylaws and policies,” Simmonds noted.
He added that the Owen Sound event is being hosted by six local churches, who promised the City of Owen Sound a day of “music-oriented worship led by different individuals each hour from the participating churches.” Those churches are:
Owen Sound Alliance Church
Southend Fellowship Baptist Church
Rockcliffe Pentecostal Church
Calvary Evangelical Missionary Church
Crossroads Victory Church
Trinity Church Owen Sound
Simmonds also said that local organizer Deana Spencer confirmed all performers are local and that Sean Feucht is not involved in organizing, nor will he perform at the event.
Despite these assurances, the local event is promoted as part of the national Burn Canada campaign, including on its official website and affiliated social media channels, with no ticket required for entry.
The listing for Owen Sound on the national website utilizes the hashtag #burnowensound for social media promotion and links to a ‘BURN Owen Sound’ personal profile on Facebook.
That profile, in turn, links back to the Burn Canada website, which features a video of Feucht at Niagara Falls inviting Canadians to join him at Burn Canada events across the country this summer (see featured image).
After confirming that the Owen Sound revival is being advertised as an open invitation gathering under the Burn Canada banner, we asked the City in a follow-up email to clarify whether it is their position that such an event — publicly associated with the national tour and its lead figure, Sean Feucht — is welcome on municipal property.
Neither the City Manager nor Mayor Ian Boddy responded.
Owen Sound is also listed on the organization’s ‘Burn Furnaces’ webpage, which identifies cities that “coordinate regular times of extended worship and prayer in any type of public gathering place” — a designation used by Burn Canada to indicate ongoing local participation.
Previous ‘BURN Owen Sound’ events have been held indoors at Harmony Centre and Knights of Columbus Hall.
In follow-up inquiries, The Owen Sound Current contacted Spencer and two of the listed churches, seeking clarification on the nature of their relationship with the Burn Canada tour and its national frontman, Feucht. We also asked whether the event organizers or host churches endorse the statements and political positions associated with Feucht and Burn Canada.
As of publication, Spencer, Owen Sound Alliance Church, and Calvary Evangelical Missionary Church have not replied.
With the event proceeding as scheduled and publicly promoted under the Burn Canada banner, key questions about its affiliations and messaging remain unanswered by both organizers and city officials.
I am pleased the supporting churches are listed. I wanted to state that the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour is not involved and would not endorse the event. Our beliefs do not align with those of the event organizers. We welcome ALL and would involve all in our church family.
Im so tired of this.