A Calgary pastor known for protesting library drag storytime events was convicted on Monday of breaching a court order, marking the third and final verdict following a series of arrests last year.
In 2023, Derek Reimer was arrested three times in five weeks as he protested Reading With Royalty events hosted at Calgary Public Libraries across the city, calling them “pervert grooming sessions.”
The reading events involve drag queens and kings reading stories to children who are encouraged to dress in their best outfit, cape or crown.
Reimer shouted what police have described as “homophobic and transphobic slurs,” leading to bail conditions that included a requirement that he stay 200-meters away from LGBTQ2S+ events.
After his first arrest, Reimer spent several days in custody because he refused to sign his bail conditions. He eventually agreed and was released.
But Reimer attended more Reading with Royalty events and was arrested twice more and charged with, among other offences, breaching his bail conditions.
On Monday, Reimer was convicted of breaching his bail condition after attending a storytime event at the Signal Hill Library.
Prosecutor Matt Dalidowicz proposed a “short sharp sentence” of seven to 14 days or a fine.
Although there was a nine-year gap in his criminal record, Reimer has previous convictions for aggravated assault and animal abuse.
Defence lawyer Andrew Mackenzie told Justice Heather Lamoreux that his client “decided to change his life and change his behaviour” after his previous convictions.
‘I protect children’
Before Lamoreux handed Reimer a $500 fine on Monday, he was given a chance to address the court.
“I serve the community,” he said. “I protect children, I expose the darkness.”
In August, Reimer was convicted of harassment and breaching bail conditions stemming from incidents at the Saddletowne and Country Hills libraries between March 25 and April 2, 2023.
He will be sentenced for those offences in November.
Two weeks ago, Reimer was acquitted of mischief and causing a disturbance connected to an incident at the Seton Library on Feb. 25, 2023.
On that day, Reimer entered the story-reading room where children and parents had gathered. He was physically ejected from the room by attendees.
“To have a pervert dressed up like this is wrong and evil,” shouted Reimer. “Parents don’t let your children be involved with this wickedness.”
In acquitting Reimer, Justice Allan Fradsham found that if there was a disturbance at the library that day, it’s not clear if it was caused by the accused shouting “insulting language” or “whether it was the result of some of the audience members’ reactions to Mr. Reimer’s physical movement within the room.”
On the mischief charge, the judge acquitted the 38-year-old after finding that the operation of the Seton branch “continued unabated.”