Calgary petting zoo owner says he's been threatened over Pride event
The owner of a petting zoo in east Calgary says the tone has changed over one its most popular public adult-only events.
Mike Sheppard, who owns Cobb's Adventure Park with his wife Maureen, says they have been hosting adult-only nights for the past few years.
"They've been quite popular," Sheppard said. "They have different themes. This one coming up is 'Drag Night.'"
Sheppard says the drag shows, which involve a stage where men dress up as women and perform, are just one part of the activities that are available to visitors.
This isn't the first time Sheppard held the event.
"Last year it was our most popular event and people loved it."
While much of the feedback has been positive, there have been a lot that he believes are hateful and target members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
"We do have people that are coming out of the woodwork that are saying, 'this is sick,' 'is this mental health awareness?' and 'you're sexualizing children.'"
Sheppard says the hateful comments have been reported to the administrators of the social media platforms that they've appeared on as well as the police.
"But comments like that are vague and not much follow up can be done," he said.
"They are aware."
Despite the negative comments, Sheppard says the event will still go ahead as planned, but will improve existing security measures to keep guests safe.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
From New York to Arizona: Inside the head-spinning week of Trump's legal drama
The first criminal prosecution of a former president began in earnest with opening statements and testimony in a lower Manhattan courtroom. But the action quickly spread to involve more than half a dozen cases in four states and the nation's capital. Twice during the week, lawyers for Trump were simultaneously appearing in different courtrooms.
Tornadoes collapse buildings and level homes in Nebraska and Iowa
Tornadoes wreaked havoc Friday in the Midwest, causing a building to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes, many around Omaha, Neb.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.