The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP,) under the leadership of Commissioner Thomas Carrique, has embraced an expansive recognition of religious and cultural observances.
Yet throughout 2024 and to now in April 2025, Christianity — including Christmas and Easter — has been notably absent from the force’s official acknowledgments. While nearly every major religious and social heritage celebration was publicly marked by the OPP with enthusiasm, Ontario’s most widely observed Christian holidays were reduced to generic seasonal greetings stripped of any reference to their religious significance.
Commissioner Carrique won’t even say the words “Christmas,” “Christ”, or “Jesus” in his social media posts.
This omission raises serious concerns about whether one of Canada’s largest police institutions is applying a truly impartial approach to religious and cultural recognition — or whether it is sidelining Christianity. More importantly, it raises questions about whether a quiet marginalization of Christian traditions is taking root within institutions sworn to serve all citizens equally.
Unequal Recognition of Religious Holidays
A review of Commissioner Carrique’s official OPP social media postings reveals a clear pattern of enthusiastic recognition of diverse religious and cultural events averaging one a week.
Among them:
Hindu Festivals: "Happy Holi," "Happy Diwali," "Hindu Heritage Month."
Muslim Observances: "Ramadan Kareem," "Eid Mubarak," "Canadian Islamic Heritage Month."
Jewish Traditions: "Happy Passover," "Joyful Chanukah," "Yom HaShoah."
Sikh Celebrations: "Happy Vaisakhi," "Sikh Heritage Day."
Indigenous and Social Justice Events: "National Indigenous Peoples Day," "Truth and Reconciliation Day," "Moose Hide Campaign Day," "PRIDE Month," "International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia."
Each of these acknowledgments included warm greetings, religious imagery, and explicit recognition of the religious or cultural significance of the occasion.
Yet when it came to Christmas, which is observed by the majority of Ontarians, there was no such recognition. Instead, the OPP offered only a neutral "Happy Holidays" and "Festive Season” — terms that carefully sidestepped any reference to Christianity, the holiday’s religious origins, or its widespread cultural significance.
But this is not merely about the choice of ‘Happy Holidays’ over ‘Merry Christmas’ — it is a consistent pattern of the OPP celebrating all religious and cultural groups except Christians.
Christians Erased, Other Faiths Celebrated
A particularly stark example of this imbalance occurred on December 30, 2024, when Commissioner Carrique hosted a Chanukah menorah-lighting ceremony at OPP Headquarters. The event included official messages of "Joyful Chanukah" and prominent religious symbols.
This enthusiastic recognition was afforded to a religious tradition observed by approximately 0.9% of Canadians. In contrast, Christianity — embraced by more than half of Ontario’s population according to the 2021 Canadian Census — received no official acknowledgment at all.
At Easter, one of Christianity’s most sacred holidays, the OPP stripped away any reference to Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection — replacing Jesus and the cross with the sanitized, secular imagery of pastel-coloured eggs.
Systemic Exclusion: Institutional Bias and Legal Violations
While the OPP proclaims diversity, its actions reveal a definition of 'diversity' that excludes Christians - selectively omitting and diminishing traditions that form the cultural and historical foundation of Canadian society. The erasure of Christmas and the avoidance of Christian symbolism are not merely oversights - they reflect a troubling shift in institutional attitudes toward Christian faith and public engagement.
This pattern has implications beyond holiday greetings. If an organization tasked with upholding public trust and serving all citizens equitably is seen as sidelining a majority faith while elevating others, it risks alienating the very communities it serves. It also raises concerns about whether such selective recognition reflects deeper institutional biases affecting hiring, policy-making, and service delivery.
Given that the OPP as a public institution is required to serve all citizens impartially, this selective religious recognition raises fundamental concerns about whether it is violating its mandate of neutrality.
A Call for Transparency and Equal Recognition
The OPP must clarify its approach to religious and cultural acknowledgments. If it is policy to celebrate all faiths and traditions equally, then Christianity — Canada’s most widely practiced faith — should not be an exception. Failing to recognize Christian holidays while publicly celebrating others is a form of exclusion that does not align with principles of equity and inclusion.
Commissioner Carrique and the OPP owe Ontarians an explanation:
Why was Christmas, a holiday observed by millions, omitted from official recognition?
Why are certain faiths celebrated with religious imagery and explicit acknowledgment, while others receive only neutral messaging?
Does the OPP recognize the importance of ensuring all communities feel equally represented?
Public institutions must be held accountable for their role in shaping societal norms. If inclusivity is the goal, then it must be applied consistently. Recognizing the faith traditions of all Ontarians — including Christians — is not just a matter of fairness, but of maintaining trust in the institutions meant to serve the public impartially.
Donald Best is a former Toronto Police Sergeant (Detective,) independent journalist, and anti-corruption advocate. He spent decades as an undercover operative in the public and private sectors and was the sole recipient of the 2018 Ontario Civil Liberties Award. He can be found on X at @DonaldBestCA and his website DonaldBest.CA
