Follow the Church Money Trail: Rally for Fair Taxes – July 22, Kelowna City Hall

Kelowna, BC— On Monday, July 22 at 3:30 PM, outside Kelowna City Hall, the Fair Taxes – Fair Future delegation—led by the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists Association (KASHA), and supported by the BC Humanist Association—will rally Kelowna residents to demand an end to unjustified tax breaks for religious organizations.

Stick around for the after party at Kelowna Beer Institute (details below).

BCHA Executive Director Ian Bushfield will be there to speak about the importance of KASHA's campaign in the wider push for fair property tax exemptions.

Bring your signs!!!

Kelowna City Council has consistently refused to hear a formal presentation from the delegation. So now, the public will hear what council refuses to hear.

What’s at Stake? $5 Million for Kelowna Tax Payers to Fund Religious organizations in Kelowna currently enjoy sweeping property tax exemptions under Policy #327.

As a result, approximately $5 million over the term is shifted onto the shoulders of local taxpayers to support public schools, libraries, hospitals, and essential city services.

Where Does the Church Money Go?
Publicly available CRA data shows that many tax-exempt churches divert large sums to international missions, political lobbying, and causes that do not reflect community values or support local services:

• Evangel Tabernacle (2023–24): Exempted from $63,183 in property tax; donated $289,000 (just $49,444 to Kelowna causes).
• Trinity Baptist Church (2023–24): Exempted from $145,632 in property tax; donated $221,876 (only $35,849 stayed in Kelowna).
• Willow Park Church (2023–24): Exempted from $73,067 in property tax; donated $274,732—$0 to Kelowna initiatives.

Discrimination Still Gets a Discount
Many of these groups enforce policies that marginalize 2SLGBTQIA+ people, or restrict membership or public use of their facilities based on gender or belief. These practices directly contradict the City of Kelowna’s2040 Official Community Plan and would disqualify them from most other public subsidies.

A Broken Policy for a Changing City
Kelowna has changed—85% of residents do not attend religious services. Yet religious groups still benefit from tax exemptions designed for a time when they served as community hubs. Some now rent their tax-free properties out for profit, further distorting the purpose of the exemption.

What We’re Demanding
The delegation calls on City Council to:

• Pause all five-year tax exemptions for religious organizations under Policy #327 this fall.
• Approve only a temporary one-year exemption for 2025.
• Establish a community-based task force in 2026 to review and modernize exemption criteria.

Rally Details

• What: Fair Taxes – Fair Future Rally
• When: Monday, July 22 at 3:30 PM
• Where: Outside Kelowna City Hall in front of Water street entrance.
• Why: City Council meets at 4:00 PM. We’ll be outside, asking them—and the public—to listen.

It’s time to ask: Why are Kelowna taxpayers indirectly funding exclusion, foreign missions, and tax-free profits?

Join us and demand fairness for all!

As per skeptic doctrine, there will be a gathering to intellectualize our next steps to save Kelowna from religiosity at the pub. All thoughts go down better with a pint of something to ease our pains.

Plus, it will be Happy Hour at this Pub till 6pm.

Located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District at The Kelowna Beer Institute we brew in small batch and serve it in it unfiltered from tank-to-tap at it’s freshest state. We have built the Kelowna Beer Institute to share our knowledge and passion for craft beer. We hope you enjoy spending time learning about and loving craft beer at the Kelowna Beer Institute as much as we love making it and serving it to you – Cheers.

We'll be there about 4:15 PM
Address: 1346 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P4

Email grow @ askuskelowna . ca if you are coming.