ABC council candidate's prayer post draws secular pushback as advance voting opens
ABC Vancouver's Lorraine Lowe posted a prayer on social media as advance polls opened on October 3, drawing criticism from the B.C. Humanist Association and prompting ABC to distance itself from the post.
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ABC Vancouver city council candidate Lorraine Lowe (刘黛明) posted a prayer on X and Instagram on October 3 as advance voting opened in Vancouver, CTV News reported. The B.C. Humanist Association called the post surprising and said candidates must speak for all voters. ABC said it was a personal prayer the party did not approve.
What Lowe posted
CTV News reports Lowe wrote: "Father God, here we are. Advance polling. Your Word says, 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood.'" She added: "Remind us that this is ultimately a spiritual fight for truth, love, humility and light, not a fight against people. Protect our team and everyone we love."
Lowe was not made available for an interview with CTV News.
The response
Ian Bushfield, executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association, told CTV News the use of explicitly religious language was surprising. Bushfield said religious language in a campaign does not resonate with voters, and that candidates need to be politicians for everyone, regardless of belief.
Bushfield also said ABC Vancouver needs to be careful about mixing religion and politics. He pointed to the party's 2022 mayoral inauguration ceremony, which included prayers. The B.C. Humanist Association threatened legal action over that ceremony. The Supreme Court of Canada found unanimously in 2015 that opening council meetings with prayers was unconstitutional, and the City of Vancouver later determined it had breached its duty to uphold religious neutrality.
ABC's response
In a statement to CTV News, ABC Vancouver said Lowe's post was "a personal prayer at the end of a long campaign." The party said it did not approve the post and that it wants candidates "to be authentic and true to themselves, and politics could use more of that. We stand with Lorraine."
Mayor Ken Sim, who leads ABC Vancouver and is seeking a second term, publicly supported the post. "I have spent the last more than eight years visiting gurdwaras, mosques, synagogues, churches, and we celebrate that," Sim told CTV News. "That's what Vancouver is, and so I 100 per cent support it."
Religion in B.C.
A 2025 poll by Research Co. found B.C. has the largest share of agnostic, atheist or non-religious residents of any province in Canada. Research Co. president Mario Canseco told CTV News: "We don't see the same type of situation in Ontario or in Quebec, or on the prairies. And there's no area in the United States that is comparable to this."
Dr. Carmen Celestini, a lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Waterloo, told CTV News the post could divide some voters and draw in others. She said it could appeal to those who believe God plays a role in politics. She did not take a position on whether the post was appropriate.
For voters
Lorraine Lowe is one of the ABC Vancouver candidates for City Council on the October 17 ballot. Advance voting continues through October 15 at locations listed at /where-to-vote.
Questions this story answers
What did Lorraine Lowe post on social media?
CTV News reports that Lorraine Lowe (刘黛明), an ABC Vancouver city council candidate, posted a prayer on X and Instagram on October 3 as advance voting opened. She wrote: 'Father God, here we are. Advance polling. Your Word says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood.' She added that the campaign is a spiritual fight for truth, love, humility and light, and asked God to protect her team. Lowe was not made available for an interview with CTV News.
How did the B.C. Humanist Association respond?
Ian Bushfield, executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association, told CTV News the use of explicitly religious language was surprising. He said elected officials need to speak for all voters, regardless of their beliefs. He also noted that ABC Vancouver has a history with religion in politics, citing the party's 2022 mayoral inauguration ceremony that included prayers, which prompted the association to threaten legal action at the time.
Did ABC Vancouver approve the post?
In a statement to CTV News, ABC Vancouver said no, they did not approve the post. The party called it 'a personal prayer at the end of a long campaign' and said it wants candidates 'to be authentic and true to themselves.' Mayor Ken Sim said he was proud of Lowe and called the post absolutely incredible, citing Vancouver's diversity of faiths and cultures.
What is the background on religion and Vancouver city politics?
The B.C. Humanist Association pointed to ABC Vancouver's mayoral inauguration ceremony in 2022, which included prayers. The association threatened legal action over that ceremony. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously in 2015 that opening council meetings with prayers was unconstitutional. The City of Vancouver later determined it had breached its duty to uphold religious neutrality.
How religious is B.C. compared to the rest of Canada?
A 2025 poll by Research Co. found that B.C. has the largest proportion of agnostic, atheist or non-religious residents of any province in Canada. Research Co. president Mario Canseco told CTV News the number of B.C. residents who do not identify with any religion has been the highest in the country by a wide margin, with no comparable area in the United States.
Who is Lorraine Lowe?
Lorraine Lowe (刘黛明) is running for Vancouver City Council with ABC Vancouver in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. You can read her candidate profile at voche.me/candidates/lorraine-lowe. ABC Vancouver is the party led by Mayor Ken Sim, who is seeking a second term.
What do religious studies experts say about candidates and prayer?
Dr. Carmen Celestini, a lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Waterloo, told CTV News the post could be polarizing for some voters and welcomed by others. She said it could appeal to those who believe God plays a role in politics. She did not take a position on whether the post was appropriate.
When is advance voting happening in Vancouver?
Advance voting in Vancouver runs through October 15, 2026. Election day is October 17. You can find advance voting locations and hours at the where-to-vote page on this site at voche.me/where-to-vote.
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