On Thursday, April 2, Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (FSC) announced the cancellation of five remaining Shen Yun Performing Arts performances, following a bomb threat on March 29 that forced the Sunday performance to be called off. The five shows were to be held from April 2 to 5.
On March 29, the venue received an emailed bomb threat warning that bombs would be detonated if the scheduled performance went ahead.
The threat read, “Many explosive devices have been placed at the Four Seasons Theater and Parliament Hill in Canada. If the Shen Yun performance is not canceled and continues to be shown, explosions are planned at Parliament Hill and the Four Seasons Theatre.”
Authorities investigated and deemed the threat not credible, however the venue still chose to cancel the show.
The FSC said that following Sunday’s cancellation the venue was receiving “escalating threats” and chose to cancel the remaining performances.
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In a news release, Shen Yun spokesperson, Joel Chipkar said, “We condemn the CCP for its continued threats to Canadians and our institutions and urge the theatre to stand with artists and reverse its decision.”
According to the same release, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) characterized the fake threats as “public mischief” after the venue hosting Shen Yun in Mississauga two weeks prior received similar threats.
Over the past two years, in Canada, more than a dozen false bomb threats have targeted Shen Yun, including performances in Ontario and British Columbia. To date, none of the threats have been deemed credible.
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Threats linked to the Chinese Communist Party
These threats, in addition to over 150 others, have been linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to the news release, “Reports indicate this fake email campaign is part of a coordinated effort by the Chinese Communist Party to silence the voice of Shen Yun, which was founded by victims of ongoing human rights abuses in China. Some of the threat emails are traced back to China. Similar emails in Chinese were sent previously targeting Parliament Hill and Prime Minister Carney.”
Chipkar said, “Cancelling the show under such circumstances sets a concerning precedent that foreign actors can disrupt Canadian business operation and society at will.”
“We remain committed to finding a path forward with Four Seasons so Toronto audiences can experience Shen Yun as intended. We will defend your right to see it and we refuse to be silenced by the Chinese Communist Party,” Chipkar added.
Despite these threats, Shen Yun’s momentum has continued.
The 2026 season includes roughly 800 performances across five continents, more than 20 countries, and 200 cities.
Founded by Falun Gong practitioners in 2006, Shen Yun strives to revive authentic Chinese traditional culture and present a civilization that existed before communist rule.
