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“I want to make sure if someone is walking down the street they aren’t forced to listen to a message they don’t want to hear, or if music is being played very loudly they shouldn’t have to listen to that,” he said.

“I don’t think people should be forced to hear those sorts of things at a high volume for hours at a time.”

Smeding, 39, started preaching in Amsterdam about 20 years ago and began on Edmonton’s streets last summer.

Once a week he takes time from his job at a construction business to preach about 90 minutes at lunchtime near City Centre mall. He is also out for up to two hours each Friday on Whyte Avenue.

He insists many passersby support this work, but had nothing to say about workers Oshry said are upset at the noise from some amplifiers.

“You’re obviously implying they have a valid argument or valid complaint. They can bring their complaint to bylaw officers.”

Dale Kornel, a retired firefighter who can often be seen preaching downtown, told the committee he and his supporters have handed out 10,000 Bibles.

“Every time we go out, every single day, there are people who say ‘Right on brother, keep preaching it.’ You may get complaints, but there are people who appreciate what we do.”

However, Coun. Michael Walters said that isn’t the point. “It’s not (about) your right to street preach, it’s not your right to report the message you fundamentally believe in. It’s the volume you do it at.”

Although the city received 959 noise complaints last year, they mainly dealt with late-night garbage collection and snow removal, construction, festivals and air conditioners.

John Simmons, director of Edmonton peace officers, said they’ve never issued a ticket for amplified street sound, and when they’ve asked preachers to pipe down or move they’ve always complied.

He thinks the current noise bylaw is adequate.

The committee asked staff to report back in April on how other cities handle this issue.

gkent@postmedia.com

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