On Oct. 24, the Town of Gibsons posted photos of its newest Halloween display and thanked its parks department for building it.
A week later, the town apologized for it.
The display, set up in a municipal park in the small Sunshine Coast town, was Harry Potter-themed. The town says it raised concerns in the community because of author J.K. Rowling’s public statements about transgender people.
What was in the display
The centrepiece was a wizard figure in a black robe and round glasses, with a broom and a red-and-gold Gryffindor scarf. Next to it sat an oversized prop book labelled Book of Spells.
The town’s parks crew made it as part of the town’s Halloween decorations, and the town shared the photos as a fun seasonal addition.
What the Town of Gibsons said
On Sunday, Nov. 1, the town posted an apology on Facebook.
“We understand that the Harry Potter series has become a difficult subject for many, particularly transgender people, because of the public statements and actions of its author,” the post said.
“While the display was intended as a fun Halloween theme, we recognize that it carries different meanings for different people. We apologize to those who felt hurt as a result.”
The town said it will take the feedback into account in future decisions.
The apology draws criticism online
The apology has travelled well beyond Gibsons, and much of the reaction on social media has been critical of the town.
Many people argued that a wizard in a park is a Halloween decoration, not a political statement. Others said you can enjoy Harry Potter without agreeing with its author. One person who said they used to live in Gibsons called the apology unnecessary. Another said their grandchildren dressed up as Harry Potter characters this Halloween without anyone batting an eye.
People who share the concerns raised with the town see it differently. For them, the franchise is hard to separate from Rowling, who still profits from it and uses her platform in the debate over trans rights.
The online comments don’t necessarily reflect how people in Gibsons feel, and the town hasn’t said how many concerns led to the apology.
What the town hasn’t said
The apology leaves some questions open. The town hasn’t said:
how many complaints it received
whether the display came down before Halloween
whether it’s changing anything about how it picks themes for public displays
The town has not announced a ban on Harry Potter decorations or events. For now, it has apologized and promised to consider the feedback.
Why Harry Potter has become divisive
Harry Potter is still one of the most popular franchises in the world. Its creator has also become one of the best-known figures in the debate over sex and gender identity.
Rowling has publicly argued for keeping sex-based protections in areas like women’s services and single-sex spaces. Her critics, including trans advocacy groups, say her statements and political activity contribute to discrimination against trans people.
Rowling disputes that, and says her position is about protecting women’s rights.
The fight has split fans. Some have walked away from the franchise. Others still enjoy the books and films, and keep them separate from the author’s views.
Vancouver’s Park Board apologized over Harry Potter in 2025
Gibsons isn’t the first B.C. local government to go through this. Vancouver’s Park Board followed the same path last year, and went further.
On Sept. 3, 2025, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience was announced for Stanley Park. It was a ticketed, after-dark walk-through attraction produced with Warner Bros. Discovery, opening Nov. 7, with adult tickets from $49.50.
A month later, on Oct. 7, the Park Board voted unanimously on a motion from Commissioner Tom Digby. The motion:
apologized to “transgender, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit” people for harm caused by hosting the event
publicly disavowed Rowling’s political activity
directed staff to confirm the attraction would run for one season only, with no extension or renewal
The event still went ahead.
Rowling responded on social media, saying being disavowed by the Vancouver Park Board wasn’t “much of a blow.”
That’s the difference between the two cases. Vancouver passed a formal motion with conditions on a commercial event. Gibsons, so far, has posted an apology about its own decorations. No public response from Rowling to the Gibsons apology has been reported.
Where is Gibsons?
Gibsons is a town of about 5,000 people on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, a ferry ride from the Vancouver area. It’s best known as the filming location for the long-running CBC series The Beachcombers.
This story will be updated if the Town of Gibsons releases more information.
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