A sign placed in downtown Kelowna caused a stir ahead of the holiday season this December. 

Each year, the Knights of Columbus put up a nativity scene display as part of the downtown Christmas decorations. The Knights go through a permitting process to do this, according to the City of Kelowna. 

This year, a sign saying 91裸聊视频淜eep Christ in Christmas91裸聊视频� was part of the display, causing concern among some people in the community, including the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA). 

According to the city, the sign wasn91裸聊视频檛 part of the permit. It was taken down on Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

On Monday, Dec. 9, (KASHA) expressed in a letter that it understands the nativity scene is part of Christmas symbols like 91裸聊视频渓ights, festive trees, and other decorative displays.91裸聊视频� But KASHA had concerns with the 91裸聊视频淜eep Christ in Christmas91裸聊视频� sign. 

91裸聊视频淭his message is not merely festive 91裸聊视频� it is political, advocating for a specific religious interpretation of the holiday,91裸聊视频� said KASHA in its letter to Black Press Media. 

91裸聊视频淚t may appear inoffensive and inconsequential for the city to endorse one religion so overtly. But it is important to understand that this does impact people of other faiths, and people who have no religious beliefs. It makes them feel less Canadian.91裸聊视频� 

The Knights of Columbus has no comment regarding the matter. 

Two days later, on Dec. 12, the conversation around the sign continued, as Kelowna-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen went to social media to express her opinion. 

91裸聊视频淲e believe that it91裸聊视频檚 an important detail that Christmas is a Christian holiday,91裸聊视频� said Loewen in her video, referring to 91裸聊视频榳e91裸聊视频� as all of the MLAs for the Central Okanagan. 

91裸聊视频淲e will be standing united and defending all British Columbians rights to religion and freedom of expression, speech, thought, belief,91裸聊视频� she added. 

91裸聊视频淐anada is an incredible country full of diverse cultures and religions, and a wide variety of views, and I think that91裸聊视频檚 one of the things that makes us so incredible.91裸聊视频� 

Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong agreed with her fellow Conservative, quote-tweeting the video and saying 91裸聊视频渁 great message from a colleague and friend. I91裸聊视频檓 proud to be part of a team that stands for what91裸聊视频檚 right.91裸聊视频� 

Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna, also quote-tweeted Loewen91裸聊视频檚 post. Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew appears to not have commented on social media but reached out to Capital News. 

91裸聊视频淚t shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be divisive to say that Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday marking the rededication of the Second Temple. Vaisakhi is a Sikh holiday commemorating the creation of the Khalsa. These are simply factual statements. While we91裸聊视频檙e at it, Labour Day recognizes the contributions of workers, and Remembrance Day honours those who gave their lives in services,91裸聊视频� said Dew. 

91裸聊视频淲hether you light advent candles or incense or diyas or a menorah 91裸聊视频� or none of the above 91裸聊视频� the great thing about religious freedom in Canada is that we can acknowledge and respect and join in each other91裸聊视频檚 traditions if we choose to do so.91裸聊视频� 

Capital News reached out to Loewen for further comment but was met with an automatic e-mail reply. Additionally, the City of Kelowna stated it had no comment on Loewen91裸聊视频檚 video. 

However, Ian Bushfield the executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association did have a comment. 

91裸聊视频淔reedom of religion in Canada includes freedom from religion,91裸聊视频� said Bushfield in an e-mailed statement. 91裸聊视频淢s. Loewen and all Christians are obviously free to celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday but our governments have a clear duty of religious neutrality. That means neither endorsing nor prohibiting any religion over any other. That sign, and arguably even the nativity scene, being on public property breaches that duty. She can put the sign up at her church or at her own house but we do not live in a theocracy.91裸聊视频� 

Bushfield has previously stated that BCHA is an organization committed to secular values. 

91裸聊视频淧art of that is the separation of religion and government,91裸聊视频� said Bushfield. 

The City of Kelowna also said it received five letters on the matter when the sign was up but none after the taken down. 

This was 91裸聊视频 most read story of the year.