Nearly 100 vehicles towed from downtown vehicle control zone since Wednesday: Bylaw
Ottawa Bylaw says its officers have handed out more than 300 parking tickets and towed almost 100 vehicles from the vehicle control zone in downtown Ottawa since it came into effect Wednesday.
Ottawa police say residents and visitors will continue to see an enhanced police presence in downtown Ottawa today, as the cleanup begins from Canada's 155th birthday party.
Tens of thousands of people packed the parliamentary precinct, LeBreton Flats, the ByWard Market and other areas of Ottawa on Canada Day, while anti-government protesters held a march through the Centretown neighbourhood.
"Given what we know and what we are faced with, we have taken an enhanced and extended posture that starts well before the 1st of July and extends well past to ensure we properly protect our city," interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said earlier this week.
Officers from Ottawa police, the OPP, RCMP and other municipal police forces will be stationed across the downtown area to monitor for any protests and to keep residents and visitors safe.
A motor vehicle control zone remains in effect this weekend in an area stretching from Sussex Drive/Colonel By Drive in the east to Booth Street in the west and Wellington Street in the north to Laurier Avenue in the south, along with the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway between Wellington Street and Parkdale Avenue.
A look at the Motor Vehicle Control Zone in downtown Ottawa for Canada Day. (City of Ottawa/release)
The roads are not closed, but any motor vehicles taking part in any demonstration, event, protest or rally will not be permitted.
There is no on-street parking or stopping on the roads in the control zone, and any motorists failing to follow the rules may be ticketed and towed.
Between 8 a.m. on Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Ottawa Bylaw said 327 parking tickets had been issued and 91 vehicles had been towed. Ottawa Bylaw also issued three tickets for unauthorized fireworks on Canada Day.
"We have developed options for multiple scenarios," Bell said about policing the capital over Canada Day.
PARAMEDIC CALLS 'WELL BELOW NORMAL'
Ottawa paramedics say they responded to a lower than normal number of calls on Canada Day compared to typical in-person celebrations.
A spokesperson tells CTV News Ottawa that paramedics responded to 31 calls across all Canada Day sites on Friday, but only transported five people to hospital. None of the issues was considered serious.
CONFEDERATION LINE
It was the first Canada Day with in-person events for Ottawa's Confederation Line since its launch in 2019, and officials say the system handled the crowds.
"OC Transpo was successfully able to move tens of thousands of residents and visitors across the city," Director of Transit Service Delivery and Rail Operators Troy Charter said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
"Fifteen O-Train Line 1 trains ran during peak volumes to accommodate customers and move people efficiently through the system."
OC Transpo closed the Pimisi Station for a short period on Friday to assist with crowd management, Charter said.
OC Transpo issued a couple of messages on Twitter Friday asking riders not to hold open the door.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.