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.
Following the incident, a China human rights advocate received an email from the same sender boasting about the cancellation and belittling Canada.
…” The Toronto Four Seasons incident was my most successful one…Haha!…Canada is hardly worth taking seriously… Even my motherland’s Communist Party couldn’t make the Shen Yun emcee cry, yet I actually did it…”
This same email address also sent threats to the UK in January 2026, warning against Shen Yun performances. The threat was proven to be a hoax, and the shows proceeded as scheduled.
In January the same sender threatened to blow up Parliament Hill if Shen Yun performed. That threat, like every other, proved to be a hoax by police.
Over the past two years, Shen Yun has been targeted by over 150 hoax threats worldwide. Some of the incidents were traced to communist China. In every case the threats were deemed unfounded and performances proceeded safely.
Toronto is the ONLY city where the show was cancelled.
Cancelling Shen Yun sets a troubling precedent: if foreign intimidation can halt performances, artistic freedom in Canada is at risk.
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.
Examples of Hoax Bomb Threats Around the World
| Country, City ⇅ | Date of incident ⇅ | Brief description |
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Please stand with us.
We cannot allow foreign threats to determine our cultural landscape.
Given the abrupt cancellation, people are digging deeper into the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and the Canadian Opera Company. Some have pointed to links between board members and institutions that expanded into China.
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
David C. Ferguson, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company (which operates the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts), previously served as Executive Managing Director and CFO of BMO Capital Markets (1999–2012). During his tenure, BMO (China) Co., Ltd. was established in China in 2010. Ferguson also sat on the Board and Audit Committee of Hydrogenics (2014–2019). In 2016, Hydrogenics entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Beijing-based SinoHytec.
People are digging deeper into the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and the Canadian Opera Company. Some have pointed to links between board members and institutions that expanded into China.
Chinese investigative reporter Jennifer Zeng raises questions about whether a pattern of threats, the unusual cancellation despite an unfounded bomb threat, and overlapping financial and institutional ties to China point to possible external influence behind the decision.
Please stand with us. We cannot allow foreign threats to determine our cultural landscape.
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.
We call on Canadian leaders to:
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For anyone who truly wants to understand the full scope of this campaign, the award-winning documentary “UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun” is essential viewing.
The film documents the coordinated bomb threats, smear campaigns, and interference operations against Shen Yun — and traces the evidence directly to the Chinese Communist Party. ‘One of the most important documentaries I’ve seen,’ said Dr. Naomi Wolf, author and journalist. Watch free below.
