(Kristi Koons with T-shirt worn at Town Hall meeting)
Conservative MP Kibble apologizes, seeks meeting with individuals ousted from Town Hall meeting
‘All of a sudden, I was encircled by large men and police officers that said I was not welcome,’ says Kristi Koons
Conservative MP Jeff Kibble has apologized to a woman who says she was told to leave Saturday’s Town Hall meeting in North Cowichan because of her T-shirt.
“I am sorry this happened and I understand your frustration,” Kibble wrote in a Facebook post to Kristi Koons. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was guest speaker at the packed meeting Saturday in Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds.
(Standing room only at Town Hall meeting)
Koons says that she was asked to leave the meeting because of her T-shirt, which supported equal rights and depicted a rainbow.
She told sixmountains.ca on Monday that two of her friends — Erin Blondeau and Jessica Barker — were also asked to leave.
Blondeau wore a sweater that read: From Salish Seas to Palestine Occupation is a Crime.
“I believe we were preemptively selected based on our clothing,” Koons said. “They were worried we were going to disrupt. We assured them we weren’t.”
In his on-line response, Kibble wrote: “I would like the opportunity to meet with the three of you this week. I would like to hear your concerns and I would also like to answer the questions you were hoping to ask at the town hall.
“Please feel free to wear your t-shirt of choice and contrary to many comments, as MP I have always and will continue to listen to all voices and opinions — including yours.”
(Photo from MP Jeff Kibble website)
Kibble, MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, said he was “saddened” that the three had been “asked to leave our Safer and Affordable Communities Town Hall by the RCMP security detail.
“I was unaware of the decision and I did not have input into their actions.”
But Koons responded that the "RCMP were asked to remove us or arrest us for trespassing by a member of your team….”
RCMP have not responded to a request for comment from sixmountains.ca.
(Police outside Town Hall meeting)
Koons describes herself as a “progressive activist” as well as a teacher, mother, business owner and alternate director on the Cowichan Valley Regional District for Area E.
She told sixmountains.ca that she doesn’t want the story to be about her but “exclusionary tactics” that seek to “remove dissenting voices.”
Here, in part, is the original post by Koons shortly after the Town Hall meeting:
“I have a democratic right to attend town halls, listen to my politicians and ask questions. How can we bridge the divide if we can't even attend public events and converse with people who hold a different view?
“Now, for those of you who know me and love me, and for those of you who know me and dislike me you all know that I am always respectful, curious and thoughtful.
“I have sat across the table from many a dissenting voice and conducted very cordial conversations.
“So there I was standing in the crowd with a friendly smile, not making a scenes and with no intentions to disrupt. I was there to listen and learn and ask a question about wealth hoarding and affordability if the opportunity arose….
“All of a sudden, I was encircled by large men and police officers that said I was not welcome because of my shirt and the group my shirt represented.
"Please — take a moment to read my shirt. One of the men said I could stay if I moved to the back and did not disrupt the event. Then another man told me it was a private event and the owners did not want me there. Then the cops told me I would be arrested if I did not leave.
“It was confusing and intimidating and very, very wrong. None of the men could give me a reason besides 'my shirt.'”
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— Larry Pynn, Jan. 12, 2026
