Officials promise a large police presence in Ottawa today as the Rolling Thunder rally rallies in the capital.
The Rolling Thunder Ottawa website does not provide much detail about this weekend’s rally, but events are scheduled for today, Saturday and Sunday at the National War Memorial, on Parliament Hill and at a church in Vanilla.
The first event of the weekend was a rally of Freedom Fighters Canada and a procession at 18:00 on the hill of Parliament.
As motorcyclists and supporters arrive in Ottawa for the event, a motor exclusion zone is now in place in downtown and ByWard Market areas.
“No motor vehicles involved in any event are allowed in this area,” police said. “However, the roads are not closed. The movement of residential and business places, as well as pedestrians, cyclists and public transport is allowed. “
Interim Chief Steve Bell told reporters on Thursday that vehicles and physical barriers would be placed in some places around the exclusion zone.
“City barricades, heavy equipment or police officers and police vehicles will be at various patrolled access points around the exclusion zone to filter out legal traffic in and around and around these streets,” Bell said.
“This weekend, residents will see a large and permanent police and law enforcement presence, including bylaws and parking.
Ottawa police officers, the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP and the Municipal Police Force will be stationed downtown to protest.
There will be no street parking or stopping anywhere in the exclusion zone, which includes Waller Street, Wellington / Rideau street, Bay Street and Laurier Avenue.
Parking in the area is available in parking lots and garages. Street parking will be allowed this weekend at the ByWard Market.
Mayor Jim Watson says the city is ready for the event.
“I am much more confident in the preparations for this convoy of about 500 motorcyclists,” Watson told CTV’s Power Play. “We have exclusion zones where these people cannot ride their bikes through residential areas, and we also have a larger police presence.
‘UNWORTHY PARTY’
Two kilometers from the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill, Community Solidarity Ottawa is hosting an Junk Party tonight.
“We can’t leave this unchallenged,” said organizer Brian Latour.
The CSO says they wanted to do something to send a message to the Rolling Thunder rally that they were not welcome in Ottawa. The event also aims to demonstrate publicly how much disturbance the convoys had on the residents of the Center.
The “Unwanted Party” starts at 5 pm in Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill.
WITHOUT STOPPING ZONES
Ottawa’s statutes say enforcement will begin at 7 a.m. for vehicles violating non-stop zones for special events in the exclusion zone.
The no-stop and no-parking exclusion zone is Waller Street, Wellington / Rideau street, Bay Street and Laurier Avenue.
THE CITY HALL OF OTTO
Ottawa City Hall and the underground car park are already closed over the weekend.
The city says the town hall and parking lot are closed to the public until Monday.
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