What would have happened to the kettle campaign at Pine Centre Mall had Neil Wilkinson and the Salvation Army stood up for their convictions?
Speculatively, the kettle campaign may not have been welcomed back.
The kettle campaign, I would guess, probably obtains the most donations from the Pine Centre location than any other site in Prince George and, knowing this, was forced to choose between helping those in need or standing up for convictions.
They chose humanity; however this was not a decision they should have been forced to make and I feel for them. This, against a charity like the Salvation Army, is terribly wrong and the mall management team should be ashamed.
The article in the National Post from Nov. 19 stated Wilkinson was informed the next day that he should not have fretted, that the songs were OK. This statement was contrary to the original one made by Pine Centre via social media when they said "we did ask the gentlemen... to stop playing because... they were playing from their religious organization's songbook."
Apologies go a long way and the Pine Centre Mall management team is yet to offer one. Many patrons (but I'm sure not all) of Prince George, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Mackenzie and Fort St. James (as well as the carollers who were embarrassed that day) will be waiting.
Jordan Stowe
Prince George
