Vancouver Canucks anthem singer let go over plans to perform at anti-mask rally
Posted December 4, 2020 6:03 pm.
Last Updated December 4, 2020 10:50 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Mark Donnelly, the man who has been singing the national anthem at Canucks home games since 2001, has been let go by the team due to his decision to sing O Canada at a rally in Vancouver protesting COVID-19 orders.
The BC Christmas Freedom Rally is being held in Vancouver Saturday, and Donnelly is set to perform after a musical parody act and before closing remarks by the organizers.
“We oppose government orders and will gather for the holidays,” the poster for the event says.
Team owner Francesco Aquilini tweeted in response to a local newspaper’s publishing of this story “Hey @VancouverSun change the headline to “Former Canucks anthem singer.” #wearamask 
A previous rally drew a crowd of around 1,000 people to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
In the past, Donnelly has performed the national anthem at an anti-abortion rally.
NEWS 1130 has reached out to Mark Donnelly and the Vancouver Canucks for comment.
