BRANTFORD, ONTARIO—The festive spirit of the holiday season hit a very literal bump in the road in Brantford, Ontario, this past weekend when a homeowner along the annual Santa Claus Parade route posted explicit, hand-written signs declaring: “Santa isn’t real,” and “Your parents are Santa.”
The holiday “truth bomb,” displayed prominently as thousands of children and families lined the street, immediately triggered a deluge of complaints—including multiple calls to the Brantford Police Service—with furious residents denouncing the act as “mean-spirited” and a definitive act of Grinch-like malice.
The Unwanted Holiday Spoiler
The incident occurred during the daytime parade, which traditionally attracts tens of thousands of onlookers to the community southwest of Toronto. The colourful but devastating signs were hung in the windows of a private residence, ensuring maximum visibility for the young spectators eager for a glimpse of Saint Nick.
- The Message: According to social media images and police reports, the signs’ blunt messages included: “Santa is fake,” “Santa isn’t real,” “Your parents are Santa,” and “Your family buys your presents.”
- Parental Panic: Horrified parents reacted instantly, attempting to shield their children from the spoiler while simultaneously lodging formal complaints with police. Many voiced their outrage online, calling the signage “absolutely disgusting” and an attack on the communal spirit of the season.
Brantford Police confirmed they received numerous calls and in-person complaints about the signs. Officers were dispatched to the residence to address the situation.
Image source: Instagram
Free Speech vs. Festive Cheer
Police ultimately confirmed that the individual responsible for the signs was spoken to and the signage was removed. However, the police acknowledged the complex legal hurdle: the signs were on private property and protected under Canadian freedom of expression laws.
“While it isn’t illegal to be a ‘Grinch,’ we do encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the season and help foster a positive, welcoming community, especially during events like the Santa Claus Parade,” said Robin Matthews-Osmond, Corporate Communications Manager for the Brantford Police Service, in a statement.
Legal experts affirmed the police’s position, noting that while the action was undeniably rude, it did not constitute a criminal offense. Free speech laws protect expression, even if that expression is unpopular or ruins childhood magic.
The case echoes past Canadian incidents, including a notorious 2012 event in Kingston, Ontario, where a man was charged with causing a disturbance after yelling “Santa Claus is not real” at parade attendees. However, those charges were ultimately tied to his disruptive behavior in a public space, not the anti-Santa message itself.
For the community of Brantford, the incident is a reminder that in Canada, while you can’t be arrested for being a Grinch, you will certainly earn the title.