St. Brigid's owner pleased with decision to uphold eviction of United People of Canada
The owner of the church that a Freedom Convoy-affiliated group has been occupying for weeks says he is pleased that a judge sided with him and ordered the group’s eviction.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Sally Gomery granted an application on Friday by the owners of St. Brigid’s in Lowertown to evict The United People of Canada (TUPOC) from the property, where they had set up what they called an “embassy.” The group was served an eviction notice more than a month ago, but dug in its heels, claiming the order was “illegal.”
Patrick McDonald, sought the court order to enforce the group's eviction, saying they failed to make $100,000 payments as part of a conditional sale of the church, owed $10,000 in rent and had broken heritage rules.
He told CTV News Friday night, as the group was packing up and leaving, that he was happy with the ruling.
“Delighted with the results. It was a very good decision and hopefully everything comes to a resolution, effective today,” McDonald said.
Gomery also ruled that TUPOC must pay $53,000 in costs to the owners of the property within 30 days. William Komer, the group's director, says TUPOC is planning to appeal the decision. Several members of the group could be seen packing up items Friday night.
McDonald said the occupation by TUPOC has been stressful.
“Sorry to the community down here that it’s been going on for such a period of time,” he said. “And my own family, obviously. It’s been a stressful time… We’d heard from some people in the TUPOC group that they’re going to stay here indefinitely… I’m glad that they’re packed up and gone.”
St. Brigid's Church was conditionally sold to the TUPOC group on June 15. Citizens in Lowertown expressed concern that some members of the group were affiliated with the convoy protest that occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks in February. McDonald said the reaction to the new prospective owners was out of the ordinary.
“Normally, when someone comes to purchase a place, you don’t have immediate reaction to who they are,” he said. “Things turned and I think what has happened… is some of the people I had been originally introduced to disappeared off the scene—they were some of his business partners—and I think things went off the rail for him, as far as I can see.”
McDonald said Friday night that Komer hadn’t yet handed over the keys, but police told him that Komer was cooperating and removing his possessions from the property.
Ottawa police said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa that responding officers kept the peace at the scene as the occupants removed their belongings.
"When that was complete, the legal owner took possession of the property. There are no OPS officers at 310 St. Patrick Street today," Sgt. Jason Brown said in an email.
"Peace in the neighbourhood", residents say
Lowertown residents walking by St. Brigid's church on Saturday were happy to see TUPOC had left the property.
"These people have been rude, disruptive, disrespectful ….shooting people with water guns is ridiculous," said Sheila Ward.
"It was a really raw feeling and the feeling is very much alive in the community, and we are afraid it's going to start again."
Stuart MacMillan said the community did not want people affiliated with the group to be at the church.
"We're gonna have some peace in the neighbourhood for a while, it's great," MacMillan said.
St. Brigid's church remains on the market, with a $5.95 million price tag.
"This whole business has elevated the conversation about the value of St Brigid’s church and that it could be something incredible for our community," said Sylvie Bigras, president of the Lowertown Community Association.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Jeremie Charron.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.