Canadian firefighters’ Halloween party allows group dressed as Ku Klux Klan members

A Halloween party at the North Sydney Firefighters Club in Nova Scotia took a disturbing turn when four individuals arrived dressed as Ku Klux Klan members, donning white robes, pointed hats, and carrying a makeshift cross.

The event, held on October 26, sparked swift backlash when video footage surfaced online, showing the group entering the fire hall before having their cross confiscated and being told to remove their hoods. 

Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh confirmed the individuals were not members of the club and stated, "A mistake was made… they shouldn’t have been [let in]."

Social media reactions erupted, with community members labeling the costumes as "blatant racism" and condemning the club’s response. 

"This is not a mistake, this is blatant racism. They should have never been let in. Apologies are meaningless with no actions behind them," one user commented. Another added that allowing entry demonstrated a "pathetic apology" from the club.

In a Facebook post, the North Sydney Firefighters Club responded to public criticism, stating, "We made a mistake! We apologize to any and all of our community who were offended or hurt by our lack of actions." The post emphasized that the individuals "are in no way, shape or form associated with our organization."

Black Women in Excellence founder, Tia Upshaw, also shared her outrage, telling the media, "Ku Klux Klan, KKK, I don’t care what rock you come from under, everyone knows what they stand for who they were and what it represents for Black individuals."

North Sydney Deputy Fire Chief Wade Gouthro added to the club’s apology, expressing that the incident was far from what the fire department stands for. 

"I can tell you this, the members of North Sydney and myself are very sorry from the bottom of our hearts and we ask for your forgiveness,” he wrote on Facebook. 

Gouthro, who had worked the night of the event but was not in attendance, noted that "when we have Halloween dances you never know what you are going to see come through the door," though he urged the public to view the incident in the larger historical context.

The Cape Breton Regional Police are now investigating the incident to determine if criminal charges are warranted.