Canadian town apologises for Harry Potter Halloween display over JK Rowling's trans views and is mocked for caving

Pioneer Park in Gibsons, British Columbia, put up a Hogwarts-themed display on 24 October featuring a bronze statue draped in Gryffindor robes, a Book of Spells prop and a 'Wanted' poster of Harry Potter — only to issue a grovelling Facebook apology a week later after around 200 complaint posts flooded in. Officials said the series had "become a difficult subject for many, particularly transgender people" because of JK Rowling's public statements on biological sex. The apology triggered a second, far larger wave of ridicule that spread well beyond the small Sunshine Coast town.

One commenter wrote: 'Imagine being triggered by a Halloween display of a children's book lmao.'

The town disabled comments on its original post as backlash mounted; critics called Canada "an absolute joke."

Vancouver's Park Board went further last year, limiting a Stanley Park Harry Potter event to a single season over the same Rowling controversy.