Calgary Pastor Arrested for Breaching Bail Conditions After Allegedly Attending Rally Outside Courthouse

A file photo of Calgary pastor Derek Reimer. Courtesy of Derek Reimer

A Calgary pastor has been arrested again for breaching his bail conditions after praying at a rally outside a courthouse in the city earlier this month.

Derek Reimer was previously arrested and charged for protesting library drag queen story times for children between 2023 and 2024, although he has since been cleared of several of those charges.

Reimer’s wife, Mona Reimer, told The Epoch Times he was arrested and remains in custody after praying and worshipping outside a Calgary courthouse on May 2. He has been accused by Calgary police of breaching conditions of his house arrest.

Reimer’s attorney, Andrew MacKenzie, said his client was attending court and was outside on the steps where a rally was being held prior to his hearing. He arrived early and participated in the rally with his supporters, which the police say breached his conditions. 

“He was participating in a rally to support him, on the courthouse steps on his court date, but the Crown is alleging that this was a breach not covered by the ‘allowed to attend court’ exception,” he said in an email to The Epoch Times.

“In this case, my argument is that, first off, he had no idea he was breaching, and second, no reasonable person would think that would be a breach,“ he said. ”A reasonable person could very well assume that if you’re going to your own court date where the Crown has appealed your acquittal, you pretty much have to be there.”

Mona Reimer said her husband was arrested on May 8 during a meeting with his probation officer.

“Our family has been exhausted financially and mentally, with this injustice ruling of Canada,” Mona told The Epoch Times in an email.

Reimer was acquitted in September 2024 after being charged with causing a disturbance and mischief in connection with a Feb. 25, 2023, protest at a drag story time event at Calgary’s Seton library.

Justice Allan Fradsham said in his September 2024 decision that the prosecution failed to prove Reimer’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Reimer’s lawyer previously told The Epoch Times that his client had served 43 days in jail due to the charges and was “effectively banned” from protesting for 18 months.

The acquittal follows a conviction in August 2024 for criminal harassment and bail condition violations related to protests at library drag story time events between March 25 and April 2 in 2024. Reimer has been acquitted of the charges related to causing a disturbance at these events.

Alberta Court of Justice Karen Molle found Reimer guilty of criminal harassment for publishing on Facebook a video recording of a conversation between himself and the manager of a Calgary library where a drag reading event was to take place. Reimer encouraged his supporters to contact the manager and express their opposition to the event.

Reimer was also convicted at the time of breaching his bail conditions, which prohibited him from attending drag story time events or communicating with participants.

Molle dismissed two charges of causing a public disturbance in connection to Reimer using a microphone and speaker outside two library events. The judge said the actions were not a criminal offence.