Ottawa’s interim police chief is warning that the city will not tolerate any sort of longer-term occupation of the capital as hundreds of motorcyclists prepare to descend on the city starting Friday.
During a briefing on Thursday, interim chief Steve Bell told reporters that organizers of the “Rolling Thunder” convoy have said they plan to leave the capital by Sunday. If they don’t, he added, his officers are ready to act.
“We’ve been really clear: We’re not going to tolerate any sort of unlawful activity that indicates any sort of longer-term occupation of any area of our city,” Bell said. “We will be very responsive and very proactive in identifying and dismantling any sort (of encampments).”
The warning came as Ottawa police and residents, many still shaken by the “Freedom Convoy” that occupied the city’s downtown core for more than three weeks in February, prepare for another round of disruptions and protests.
The “Rolling Thunder” group has not been clear about the cause they’re rallying for, except to say that they will be in Ottawa to “peacefully celebrate our freedom.” However, the organization has partnered with several groups apparently linked to the “Freedom Convoy.”
That occupation disrupted traffic, forced businesses to close, and sparked complaints of intimidation, harassment and hateful conduct. Police chief Peter Sloly resigned after many residents criticized police for not taking a harder line with the protesters.
The demonstration, which also disrupted several border crossings with the United States, saw protests against COVID-19 restrictions and demands that the Liberal government resign.
It ended after the federal Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act, and police moved in to detain and arrest dozens of people.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reflected Thursday on the last protest convoy in remarks at an event for Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“Earlier this year, our country and people around the world were shocked and dismayed to see Nazi imagery displayed in our nation’s capital,” he said.
“For the Jewish community and for all Canadians, those images were deeply disturbing.”
Bell, who has promised a heavy police presence this weekend, told reporters that the service has learned a lot from that experience. He said the hate crimes unit has already been involved in preparing for the event and anyone displaying hateful symbols will be charged.
He added officers will arrest any “Freedom Convoy” protesters ordered by the courts to stay away from the city as a condition of their release.
“Many of the individuals charged in the unlawful protest in February have conditions to not be in Ottawa,” he said. “Those individuals must respect those conditions set out by the court. If those conditions are breached, those individuals will be arrested and charged.”
Convoy organizers have said they plan to arrive on Friday before gathering on Saturday morning and doing a loop around the downtown core, with a stop at the National War Memorial as well as a march and rally on Parliament Hill.
One of the organizers of the convoy, Neil Sheard, who has been involved in protests against COVID-19 restrictions, had previously warned of a “free-for-all” if police didn’t let protesters bring their bikes onto the streets around Parliament Hill.
But Ottawa police have designated a large part of downtown as a no-go zone for vehicles, including several blocks around Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial.
The anticipated route that the convoy will take on Saturday will skirt the edge of this “exclusionary zone” and come within eyesight of the War Memorial and Parliament Hill. However, vehicles will be prevented from getting to the two sites.
Bell indicated convoy participants will be allowed to walk up to the two locations, but not bring their vehicles.
“We aren’t going to prevent protesters from attending the nation’s capital to have their voices heard,” he said. “What we are doing is we’re taking steps to make sure that there aren’t vehicles in a certain area while we manage foot-based protests.”
As for the actual motorcycle ride through the city, Bell said officers will be watching it closely, and participants will be forbidden from stopping or parking during the entire route.
Police will also be closely monitoring sites where convoy participants are planning to set up for the weekend, he said, including a church east of downtown and a more rural area to the west.
Downtown Ottawa Coun. Catherine McKenney earlier this week said many Ottawa residents who felt terrorized by the “Freedom Convoy” are fed up and prepared to take matters into their own hands if the “Rolling Thunder” convoy enters their neighbourhoods.
Bell acknowledged “that there’s been a fracture in trust between our community and the police service” because of what happened in February. But he urged residents to notify police if they see anything, and to avoid conflict with convoy participants.
“We see a lot of conflict online over this event,” he added. “Must of it from people in groups behind keyboards far away who want to drive discord.”
“I absolutely do not want to see this conflict on our streets this weekend.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, who was also at the briefing, at one point encouraged residents to continue about their business this weekend, saying: “We also encourage residents to continue to shop downtown, to continue to shop in the ByWard Market.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2022.
Lee Berthiaume and Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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