Thousands of people dressed in red and white and waving Canadian flags packed downtown Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 155th birthday on Friday, as a group of protesters marched through the streets near Parliament Hill to protest against vaccines against COVID- 19 and federal restrictions.
This is the first in-person Canada Day in Ottawa in three years after COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of events in 2020 and 2021.
“We’ve already missed two years,” Rebecca Lau said as she stood outside Parliament Hill. “We used to come here every year to celebrate Canada Day, but the last two years we had to stay home because of the pandemic.”
Highlights included a daytime ceremony and evening show at LeBreton Flats, family-friendly activities and fireworks at 10 p.m. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds were forced to cancel their annual Canada Day flyover over Ottawa after a recent technical issue.
Karen McDonald spends her first Canada Day in Ottawa.
“It’s totally exciting for me to be here in person,” said Ladner, a native of British Columbia. “So many different people in the city are dressed in red and white, with flags. I’m sick to my stomach with pride.”
Two kilometers from LeBreton Flats, Parliament Hill and the streets around the Parliament buildings were filled with people celebrating Canada Day.
“It’s great to see everyone here celebrating and enjoying Canada Day. It’s good to see all the patriotism going on; good, positive,” said Todd Salter, who visited Ottawa from Erin, Ont. “There are protesters here, but they seem calm at the moment, which is a nice change. It feels a bit normal and it’s really nice to be back.’
The Canada Day celebrations come months after “Freedom Convoy” demonstrators occupied streets around Parliament Hill protesting against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Hundreds of people gathered on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill just after 3 p.m. for the March for Freedom, an event organized by Freedom Fights Canada to protest the mandates of COVID-19 and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
“We’re going to get together legally, we get that. We’re holding the line because they’re going to shut us down again,” a speaker said as participants chanted “Freedom”.
“No matter who they put in government they will always have to deal with us, we are now the fringes and we are a force to be reckoned with. We’re not afraid, you can’t intimidate us and scare us through the media not to show up on our day,” the speaker said, referring to increased security in downtown Ottawa.
“We are Canadian and we win.
The group marched down Wellington Street past Parliament Hill and through downtown streets to the National War Memorial where they sang O Canada. Participants held Canadian flags and “Freedom” signs as they chanted “Liberty,” “Liberte,” “End all mandates,” “Canada” and called for Trudeau’s resignation.
The Freedom Fighters Canada website said the “March for Freedom” will be followed by speeches, live music and DJs on Parliament Hill.
Just before 1pm, dozens of people gathered on Wellington Street outside Parliament Hill and chanted “Free Pat King”. Pat King was one of the organizers of the Freedom Convoy and remains in prison on charges related to his involvement in the three-week protest.
Mackenzie Gray of CTV News reported that some protesters tried to set up a table outside Parliament Hill, with protesters signing a petition calling for the prime minister to be charged with treason. Officers from the Bylaw Office came in and ordered them to remove the table.
The Canadian Press reported that two women from a group called Stand For Thee, which was handing out copies of the Bill of Rights and calling for the prime minister’s arrest, were selling merchandise from a table when Charter officials intervened. The rights were replaced in 1982 by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Trudeau’s treasonous people have set up a table right in front of the Hill, whose statute has already come and told them they have to move.
They’re not too happy about it #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/spvWcpURiQ
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) July 1, 2022
A “Family Day Picnic” organized by the group Police on Guard for Thee at a nearby park was canceled, with organizers citing a “recent incident in Ottawa.” However, no further details were provided.
A small crowd gathered in Strathcona Park, although the picnic was canceled and the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, Maxime Bernier, planned to address supporters in the area. Several Canadian-flagged vehicles were parked in the parking lot.
There is a visible police presence patrolling the parliamentary precinct and roads around downtown Ottawa, with a motor vehicle control zone set up to prevent vehicles from stopping or participating in protests.
Any vehicles stopping or parking in the control area will be fined and towed, while police say all vehicles involved in the protests will be banned from entering the area.
As of Friday evening, Ottawa officers had issued 284 parking tickets and towed 79 vehicles from the vehicle control area. Three highway encumbrance tickets and two unlicensed refreshment vehicle tickets were issued.
Bylaw officers also increased fines for making unusual noise, yelling, urinating or defecating on roads and sidewalks, blocking a highway and idling. Fines are now $1,000.
Mayor Jim Watson hopes everyone follows the rules by the evening.
“When the sun goes down, the party is out and we want people to have a good time. They have to do it responsibly,” Watson told CTV News Ottawa on Canada Day.
Despite the presence of protesters, Ottawa police say it is safe for families to come downtown for Canada Day events.
“Come on, don’t worry. It’s a festival. It’s to celebrate Canada, that’s why we’ve gotten to the point where we have to put the plans and the resources around it,” interim chief Steve Bell told The Evan Solomon Show on Thursday. “It’s going to be a safe environment, so we’re here to ensure that.”
Four people were arrested after an incident at the National War Memorial on Thursday, shortly after Canadian Forces veteran James Topp finished his march to protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
“We are reviewing video and investigating the incident at the National War Memorial tonight,” police said on Twitter Thursday night. “Initial investigation indicates that the interaction with officers became confrontational and 1 officer was choked. Other officers responded immediately, 4 people were arrested.”
Some Ottawa residents decided to skip a trip downtown for Canada Day, celebrating at one of several community events in the capital.
“It’s local, it’s easy and they have a lot of activities aimed at the little ones,” said Steven Knapp while attending the Canada Day event in Barrhaven.
On Petrie Island in Ottawa’s east end, people were enjoying a day at the beach and Canada Day festivities.
“It’s a day where we all go together, have fun and just enjoy the day together.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on Canadians to recommit to the country’s values on Canada Day, including respect, hope and kindness.
In his official Canada Day message, the Prime Minister said July 1 is an opportunity to commit to the values that the maple leaf represents.
“It is also a promise – a promise of opportunity, a promise of safety for those fleeing violence and war, and a promise of a better life,” he said.
With files from The Canadian Press and Natalie van Rooy and Jackie Perez of CTV News Ottawa
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