Markham Public Library apologizes after email suggests taking down Islamic Heritage Month displays
CBC
Markham Public Library apologized on Monday for an employee email posted online that suggested it was going to take down Islamic Heritage Month displays.
According to images shared on social media of the email, Markham Public Library (MPL) was going to pull the displays due to the situation in the Middle East.
"The email is inaccurate," Catherine Biss, CEO of the library, said in a statement. "Markham Public Library regrets this occurred and we apologize for any confusion or hurt this has caused the community."
Social media posts that shared the email said it was sent to all staff.
"Given the current situation in the Middle East, it is best for us not to be actively promoting the Islamic Heritage Month, this will be perceived as if we are taking a particular side," the email said.
It goes on to say the library was asked to take down the displays by Bliss and an unnamed councillor.
"If you currently have any merchandising around this topic, please take it down for now. If you haven't put it up yet, please don't," the email continues.
The library's statement says Islamic Heritage Month displays are present in all of its libraries, given that October is Islamic Heritage Month, and will remain on display for the rest of the month.
"As a public library, it is our goal to unite and bring people together. MPL takes pride in showcasing the positive contributions of our diverse communities through displays such as these."
In a statement on Monday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, a non-profit organization, called for an investigation into the matter from the city of Markham. It also called for accountability from everyone involved in decision-making.
The council noted that there has been a spike in Islamophobic incidents since the Israel-Hamas war began.
"Let's call this what this. Islamophobia. Pure and simple," the council said in the statement.
"We do not think that those involved in making such a decision deserve to be on the city payroll any longer. We cannot tolerate Islamophobia — especially not from our institutions. Period. There must be zero tolerance."
Like a crown on the hill, Pincher Creek’s Lebel Mansion brings a sense of history and warmth to the skyline above downtown.
The United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, is an event worth celebrating for one Venezuelan refugee living in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Interveners in Halifax Water’s rate case are telling the regulatory board that the utility’s new proposal, which would cut its initial request by nearly half, is still inordinately high.
From the wintry symbol of a red northern cardinal to the rare New Brunswick sighting of a painted bunting, birds were the top subjects of this week's Your Lens submissions.
Fields of wheat are a staple in the landscape of Manitoba’s prairies, but this year many farmers plan to grow alternative crops.
Abel Charles throws on a pair of headphones and pulls his radio studio microphone closer to his face.
A new study by biologists at the University of Victoria has revealed why the simple back-and-forth motion of drift logs on B.C. beaches has destroyed critical ecosystems that keep the ocean healthy.
According to Niagara native, Lindsay Davies, the complaint that Ontario is a boring province when it comes to outdoor adventures is just plain wrong.
As of Jan. 1, most job postings in Ontario need to include salary figures, carbon monoxide alarms need to be on every level of a home and municipalities are now out of the recycling business.
Hundreds of medical school graduates, donning their hard-earned white coats, start their residencies every summer, during which they take on at least a few more years of training in a specialized field, like surgery or pediatrics, before they're licensed to practise.
Unreserved spoke to many acclaimed Indigenous authors in 2025. Each shared a few lessons that help them navigate life’s challenges and joys.
If you thought December seemed colder and snowier than usual, you're right.
Theodore has once again claimed the top spot as the most popular baby name on Prince Edward Island in 2025.