Bomb threat at Four Seasons Toronto forces evacuation, causes Shen Yun to cancel on second night

A bomb threat at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto forced the building to evacuate, and cancelled the second night of the annual production of the Shen Yun dance show.

Toronto police received a call for a bomb threat in the Queen Street West and University Avenue area just after 1 p.m. on Sunday. Based on an investigation, officers determined that the threat “appears to be unfounded.”

An investigation remains ongoing.

A Shen Yun performance was scheduled at Four Seasons Centre, home of the Canadian Opera Company, for 2 p.m. on Sunday. The event was cancelled as a result of the threat, according to police.

The threat was emailed, the downtown theatre said in a statement.

“The message was immediately reported to Toronto Police Service and full safety protocols were immediately activated, including comprehensive sweeps of the entire venue,” the theatre wrote in an email to the Star.

The show, a dance performance showcasing China “before Communism,” opened in Toronto for the 2026 season on Saturday. It is showing until April 5, before heading to Vancouver.

Organizers ‘heartbroken’ over cancellation

Leeshai Lemish of Shen Yun Performing Arts told the Star in an email that it was the theatre’s decision to cancel Sunday’s performance.

“They’ve never had a cancellation before and were deeply saddened by it,” Lemish said of the organizers.

Ninety-six per cent of tickets to the show on Sunday had been sold. Lemish said organizers were trying to make it possible for the ticket holders to see the show another time.

In an email to their patrons on Sunday, the local presenter, Falun Dafa Association of Toronto, said the show had received 150 similar threats around the world in the last two years.

“After thorough police searches they were all determined to be hoaxes. Authorities have traced the origin of some of these messages to China,” the email read.

The local presenter claimed it to be “part of a broader, well-documented effort by the Chinese Community Party to stop Shen Yun from performing.”

“Shen Yun portrays traditional Chinese culture before communism, as well as the reality of life under tyranny in China today — and this scares Beijing,” Falun Dafa Association of Toronto’s email said.

For upcoming performances in the week, organizers said the theatre would enhance security measures to ensure the safety of attendees.

For those who had tickets booked for Sunday, they are offering to exchange tickets for another Toronto performance this week or to use it next year in any GTA theatre.