Vancouver Canucks fire anthem singer after he stands up for freedom during anti-lockdown protest

Mark Donnelly, the singer who performed the national anthem for the Vancouver Canucks since 2001, has been fired by the NHL franchise after it was announced that he would be performing the national anthem at an anti-lockdown rally, the Vancouver Sun reports.

Donnelly was quickly fired even before he performed at the rally, with Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini announcing the firing over Twitter Friday evening.

Donnelly said prior to his participation in the event "I sing ‘O Canada’ as a sign of unity and strength for all Canadians. The true north strong and free."

The rally, the B.C. Christmas Freedom Rally 2020, took place the following afternoon in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, one of the most popular protest spots in Vancouver. The VAG has been the site of multiple protests surrounding the pandemic over the course of the year, and was also the site of a major Black Lives Matter protest.

Despite being labelled as an anti-mask rally, the event organizer Ryan Kulbaba has said nothing about masks in his promotional material for the event. Aside from encouraging holidays-inspired practices such as wearing festive clothes and playing Christmas music, the only statement made surrounding the pandemic is in defiance of lockdown orders.

"We oppose government orders & will gather for the holidays!" the event flyer reads.

Kulbaba has made statements encouraging Canadians to shop without masks at a previous demonstration in November, however. Most of the rallygoers were not wearing masks either, although masks are not a requirement in outdoor public spaces under BC coronavirus rules.

The organizer also encouraged rallygoers to bring food and toys for local food banks and a toy drive.

Speaking at the rally, Donnelly described the government's lockdown measures as "draconian." Under provincial guidelines released in mid-November, Vancouverites are prohibited from having social gatherings with people outside of their immediate households, religious services are prohibited, group fitness activities are prohibited, and masks have been made mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

"What was originally sold as 15-day hunkering down sprint for the common good has turned into a 10-month marathon from hell, where the finish line is constantly being moved further into the distance," Donnelly continued. "As someone known for singing our great national anthem, I'm standing up against what I feel is tyranny, plain and simple."

Donnelly's speech was well-received by the crowd, who awarded him a round of applause.

The singer then turned his attention to his firing by the Canucks. "Sports figures, entertainers, politicians, et cetera, can stand for anything as long as it supports the narrative," Donnelly argued. "You can support rioting, looting, destructions of livelihoods and reputation, but take a position against the narrative and you are worthy of exile or worse."

Donnelly also claimed that he was never officially notified about his firing.

This is not the first time the former Canucks singer has seen controversy surrounding his political views. Donnelly had previously attracted controversy for singing the anthem at an anti-abortion protest in 2012, also at the Vancouver Art Gallery.