Downtown Ottawa didn’t see anything close to the number of revelers it usually sees during Canada Day celebrations, according to businesses in the area.
Sam Elsaadi, owner of Crêperie Rim on Sparks Street, said there was “hardly anyone” around and some tourists he spoke to were unaware the event had been moved to LeBreton Flats due to ongoing construction on Parliament Hill.
“It’s frustrating. I’ve got my workers here, I’ve been telling them, ‘Expect Canada Day to be busy, busy,’ and they’re just kind of scoffing, like, ‘Where are the people?'” They say last Saturday we were busier than [Canada Day] in the morning because of the traffic,” Elsaadi said.
He believes road closures have “scared people” away from downtown and that holding the event off Parliament Hill has affected businesses in the ByWard Market and Bank Street.
“What’s the big deal? It’s another demonstration,” he said. “It’s sad to hear that the event was far away.”
Elsaadi said when customers entered the store Friday night, they questioned why the festivities weren’t happening on the Hill.
Jason Komendat, owner of Retro Rides on Sparks Street, said Canada Day is busy enough, but nowhere near what the shop usually sees on July 1. (CBC)
Police presence ‘excessive’
Jason Komendat, owner of Retro Rides on Sparks Street, said Canada Day was busy enough, but not as busy as usual. He questioned the level of police enforcement put in place to prevent demonstrators associated with the Freedom Convoy movement from staging a new occupation of downtown streets.
“I felt really disappointed with the way the whole thing was handled. I realize there needs to be some presence, but I think it was quite over the top,” he said. Police set up a red enforcement zone that “created fear” and kept locals away, Komendat added.
“What we are experiencing as a small business on Sparks Street is a slow death. We’ll be lucky to get to the end of this season,” he said. “We have property taxes, rent arrears that are really going to be impossible to pay.”
Bogdan Wozniak has been selling hot dogs in Ottawa every day to Canada since 1988.
He said he’s had busier years but still sold more than 200 hotdogs — a sellout for him — by 6:30 p.m.
“My point of view was very well organized. It was very peaceful, a very nice Canada Day,” he said.
Bogdan Wozniak has been selling hot dogs every Canada Day in Ottawa since 1988. (CBC)
Residents give mixed reviews
Franklin McKay lived downtown during the Freedom Convoy protest earlier this year. He said he and his wife decided to spend their first in-person Canada Day celebrations in Montreal for a quieter weekend and less drama.
“At the end of the day, based on [what happened in] February we thought it would be a little safer to venture into Montreal. So maybe next year [we’ll stay in Ottawa],” he said.
Abdu Diallo also lived downtown but returned for Canada Day.
“It wasn’t too bad actually. We’re used to it. Every Canada Day is pretty much the same, so to be honest it was pretty much just like any other Canada Day,” he said.
“It was just a little bit smaller, but it went well. Thank goodness.”
Councilor calls police enforcement ‘balancing act’
The city councilor representing downtown Ottawa described the Canada Day weekend as a success.
County Somerset. Kathryn McKenney pointed to planning and coordination as some of the reasons why protesters adjacent to the Freedom Convoy who came to the city were unable — and largely unwilling — to gain a foothold in downtown Ottawa.
“I think the key thing is just not allowing any occupation to take root, not allowing large or any vehicles to come in and stay,” they said.
“There was an increased police presence. It’s a shame we have to have this; many people also expressed concern about it. It’s a real balancing act that you have to play to make sure that the police are there to respond to any violence, disturbance, but at the same time it’s not something we want to see in our city, we really would wanted to see him get back to normal.”
Between June 29 and July 4, officers issued 527 parking tickets and towed 125 vehicles, the city’s bylaw department said Monday. Provincial infringement notices were also issued for encumbering a highway, piling material on a highway, etc.
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