If foreign intimidation can shut down a globally acclaimed performance in Toronto, freedom in Canada is at risk. Despite touring 200+ cities worldwide, Shen Yun’s Toronto shows were cancelled even after police confirmed the bomb threats were a hoax.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, which presents “China Before Communism,” was in Toronto for its 20th anniversary tour. On March 29, about 2,000 people were evacuated from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts after a bomb threat was sent from a Chinese-named Gmail account, warning that there would be an attack if Shen Yun performed. Toronto Police quickly determined the threat to be “unfounded.” Despite this, the venue cancelled the show and, two days later, cancelled the remaining five Shen Yun performances.
| Country, City ⇅ | Date of incident ⇅ | Brief description |
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When threats are deemed baseless and pose no risk to public safety by police, Canadians’ right to attend performances of their choice must be upheld — even if those performances are not approved by the Chinese Communist Party.
Please stand with us. We cannot allow foreign threats to determine our cultural landscape.
The person ultimately responsible for the decision to cancel six performances of @ShenYun at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto is the General Director of the Canadian Opera Company, David C. Ferguson. Based on publicly available information, Ferguson’s… pic.twitter.com/F0ALsumHG0
— 文昭談古論今 (@wenzhaocomment) April 4, 2026
Shen Yun, a celebrated performance showcasing China before communism, had six of its eight scheduled Toronto performances cancelled by the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts after bomb threats that police quickly determined were unfounded.
Over 150 similar threats have targeted Shen Yun worldwide.
All were hoaxes.
Evidence points to a coordinated global campaign linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
In 200 theatres across 20 countries, no Shen Yun performances had ever been cancelled over a threat. Until now.
When police deem threats pose no risk to public safety, Canadians’ right to attend performances of their choice must be upheld—even if those performances are not approved by the Chinese Communist Party.
Cancelling Shen Yun sets a troubling precedent: If foreign intimidation can halt performances, artistic freedom in Canada is at risk.
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