Formal request to utilize Calgary’s City Hall Atrium

To Mayor Naheed Nenshi, All City Aldermen, Corporate Security, Law Department and Calgary City Clerks Office

June 22, 2012

We did receive and review your documents dated May 15 2012 and your 500 page affidavit against our peaceful church assembly inside Calgary’s City Hall and the matter is presently before the courts. What caught our attention in those documents is your claim that our prayer and worship meetings are too disruptive for the regular business hours. Of course we strongly disagree, noting that our event is one of the least disruptive compared to the other hundreds of events that you approve on a regular basis.

On April 2 2012 we did send you a formal request to utilize Calgary’s City Hall Atrium or the City Hall Chamber (like it is being done in about 30 municipalities in British Columbia alone). To this day we have not received any reply and even though we have filled out over 20 applications to see the mayor of our city, we have been completely ignored proving once again that your offices are biased and even though you claim that you want everyone to follow the rules, you yourselves are showing the total opposite. Is this a regular practice from the municipal representatives to dismiss citizens based on their deep convicted faith just because it does not represent the beliefs of the elected officials and the city’s various departments? I don’t think so. We have the feeling that other organizations receive totally different ‘treatment’ from your offices.

I believe that your lack of response, in other words ‘we do not care about your rights or opinions’, shows that you have a private agenda and not a legitimate stand on these issues. If we are incorrect, then this document will give you the opportunity to clear up this misunderstanding.

If the ‘noise’ and the ‘disturbance’ sitution at the lunch hour during the work week, as you claim in your legal document, is the real problem and not anti-christian sentiment, then we humbly ask (and consider this a formal request/application) to utilize the City Hall Chambers on Saturday’s from about 10 am until 2 pm. The City Hall is empty on Saturday’s and Sunday’s and we know that it is possible to have the place opened for approved events and this would automatically resolve our differences.

This approach in working together for the common good of all citizens would be more beneficial to everyone involved.

Our Saturday meetings would remove all the claimed allegations, and with your approval, would prove that you do not have any hidden biased agendas and the only thing that you are concerned about is that the law and order is kept.

Believe us when we say that we are working very hard to try and find common ground that we can work with you and not against you. This is our true desire. If there is anything that you can suggest to us about how we can mutually come to a consensus please let us know.

Thank you for reading this request and we are looking with anticipation for your sirs and mums reply. Do not hesitate to contact me directly to discuss this matter at 403-607-4434 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Sincerely

 

Artur Pawlowski

On Behalf of the Christian community

 

500 page affidavit against our peaceful church assembly