A Kelowna businessman is suing a Christian podcaster from Chilliwack and a former Kelowna pastor for defamation.
Al Hildebrandt filed the civil suit in Vernon on Mar. 19 against Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, Sheppard Ministries Society doing business as Laura Lynn Ministries, and John Graham Perks.
Hildebrandt alleges that Thompson slandered his name in a video uploaded on Mar. 12 when discussing Perks’ recent eviction from 2041 Harvey Avenue in Kelowna and allegations that Perks did not pay rent, vendors, and staff.
While renting the Harvey Avenue property from Hildebrandt’s company, Impact Upstream Ventures Inc., Perks started a number of businesses, including the Restoration Church, out of the venue.
In mid-February, Perks was evicted from the building. Hildebrandt filed in Kelowna Civil Court on Mar. 13 for more than $72,000 against Perks and his various businesses, alleging the rent was not paid for 2041 Harvey Avenue during the first two months of 2026.
In the video entitled ‘Daystar: Joni’s Great Pretenders’, Thompson stated, “Hildebrandt has actually inherited money, a lot of it, a lot of money over the next few months from events and from already booked churches that meet in the building because of what the previous people managing the building, John and others, have brought in… My ask of Al Hildebrandt is that you pay back the widows and orphans first and that you have a plan which brings some sort of restoration to others and doesn’t just enrich your own pocket.”
In court documents, Hildebrandt claims Thompson’s comments allege Hildebrandt acted in an improper manner and for an improper purpose regarding the eviction of Perks and that Hildebrandt “wrongfully intends to receive money that should be paid to others.”
The plaintiff claims he reached out to Thompson, asking that the video be taken down and an apology be issued for the alleged defamatory statements, in which Hildrebrandt was involved. Hildebrandt stated in the claim that the podcaster and her team have refused.
Hildebrandt claims Thompson is relying on the video information being fed to her by Perks, alleging that the two defendants conspired together on the statements “for the common purpose of causing harm to Hildebrandt.”
The owner of 2041 Harvey Avenue is seeking relief in the form of general, special, punitive, and aggravated damages, a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from continuing to defame Hildebrandt, and other costs the court sees fit.
Neither Thompson nor Perks has filed a response.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.