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“You haven’t sat down and talked to us. We haven’t had a conversation. All we want to do is serve the community.”
Publication date:
August 20, 2022 • 12 hours ago • 3 minutes read • 11 comments Diane Nolan, director of United People of Canada, speaks during Saturday’s media conference at the former St. Brigid. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
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The United People of Canada tried once again to explain their presence at St. Brigid’s Church in a messy Saturday afternoon media conference streamed live on Facebook and constantly interrupted by jeers.
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Speaking to a gathering of about 30 people at the unconsecrated Catholic church, TUPOC’s Diane Nolan said the eviction notice served last week was invalid and she said the group deserved an apology for the way it had been characterized.
“I called this press conference because I truly believe we deserve an apology,” said Nolan, one of TUPOC’s directors. “We deserve an apology for what was said by the mayor, what was said by Sylvie Bigras (President of the Lowertown Community Association) and (City Councilman) Mathieu Fleury.”
All three were critical of TUPOC and its plans for an “embassy” in St. Brigid’s, with Mayor Jim Watson describing the group as “kind of silly” in a radio interview.
“You didn’t sit down and talk to us,” Nolan said. “We haven’t had a conversation. All we want to do is serve the community.
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William Comer, right, director of People United Canada, speaks with a counter-protester during Saturday’s media conference. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
The owner of St. Brigid has hired Cease Bailiff Services to evict TUPOC supporters, saying the group owes $10,000 in rent, failed to provide proof of liability insurance and did unauthorized construction on the heritage building. Nolan denied those allegations on Saturday and appeared to imply that the group was having trouble raising funds because of the bad publicity.
“The truth is that people want to donate to an organization they believe in, but the corrupt government right now is instilling so much fear in people. There are a lot of misconceptions about it,” she said.
In his hour-long question-and-answer session, Nolan said TUPOC is motivated by love for its neighbors and love for the world. Although Nolan said she helped out during the Freedom Convoy occupation of downtown Ottawa last winter, she said the problems go beyond the convoy.
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Erica Lackey, left, attended Saturday’s media conference to discuss her problems with her new neighbors from the United People of Canada. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
“We’re here to look at some issues that happen long before the convoy,” Nolan said. “You don’t need 100,000 people to tell you there are problems in this country.
“This is not convoy propaganda,” she replied to one of the predators from the back of the church. “Not everyone here is from the convoy. You will not classify us!’
Nolan said she previously did street ministry among the homeless in Ottawa and peppered her speech with talk of God and Christian references. She called the rent dispute a “Red Sea moment,” a predicament that would be resolved by God’s intervention, and made references to the “seven mountains.”
The Seven Mountain Mandates is a US-based conservative evangelical movement that seeks to assert Christian influence over seven aspects of life: family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government.
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The United People of Canada (TUPOC) held Saturday’s media conference at the former St. Brigid. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
One nearby resident, who said she went to the church Saturday “to be a fly on the wall,” said she was visited by a TUPOC member because she was wearing a Pride Canada flag. “She told me to take my pride flag and go home,” said the woman, Heather, who did not give her last name. Although other TUPOC members told her she was welcome with her flag, Heather said the initial hostility infuriated her and that she was suspicious of TUPOC.
“It seems like it’s all smoke and mirrors,” she said. “They’re not very good at articulating their message. They say they are not part of the Convoy of Freedom, but can’t explain why so many cars in their parking lot have “Convoy of Freedom” signs on them.
Rob Day attended Saturday’s media conference to ask questions and voice his opinion that questions were not answered during the event. Photo by Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
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