Publication date: July 19, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 6 minutes read • 9 comments United People of Canada is in the process of purchasing and renovating the historic St. Brigid. William Comer, a member of the organization’s board of directors, took this newspaper on a tour of the building. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

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A new organization called the United People of Canada is in the process of buying and renovating a historic church property in Lowertown, with the goal “to make sure people can have a place where they can be heard,” as one of their directors put it . — including those associated with the “Freedom Pact.”

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The ongoing transformation of St. Brigid’s, a former Catholic church turned arts and culture center, was met with considerable concern in the surrounding community. On the one hand, the 130-year-old building has fallen into disrepair, and some local residents are eager to see that change. While it once hosted concerts in the former sanctuary space and coziness in an Irish pub in the basement, its pandemic shutters have left the impressive heritage building sitting empty and decaying, more popular as a place of rest for those in the neighborhood struggling with homelessness and Homelessness and addiction. On the other hand, the fledgling organization’s online profile offers little information about the history behind the United People of Canada (TUPOC) and who these people are.

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“We are building strong communities and securing a prosperous future. Get in touch to learn more,” their website encourages. A popular Reddit post offered one person’s opinion: “A group with close ties to the Freedom Convoy acquired a large church in Ottawa to serve as a base of operations and no one seems to have noticed.” Currently for sale for $5.95 million, property records show the St. Brigid has been sold conditionally. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia What has come up is “a lot of community concerns, a lot of community questions,” said District Councilor Mathieu Fleury. “The residents of Lowertown were directly affected by the convoy, and these wounds are recent and they run deep.” At a sparsely attended Sunday barbecue billed as a way to introduce their “embassy” to the community, the United People of Canada board member repeatedly told this newspaper that they are not affiliated with the “Freedom Convoy ». .

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In fact, he said they have nothing to do with the freedom movement – a term used by this newspaper to try to describe the individuals, groups and grievances that have gathered for events in the capital in recent months, from weeks The protest it was occupied in the winter, in Canada Day protest activities. “Now, are there any people that you might be associated with or… publicly seen as involved in the freedom movement that would be interested in reserving space here? I think there are, because we’re open and we don’t discriminate,” Komer said. He noted, a little later: “I would suppose, or hope perhaps, that the citizens (of) Ottawa who did not want a tent in front of the Parliament on the street which would take a few lanes there, might prefer it here or any other place within ».

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The motivation behind the project, according to Komer, was to ensure that people have a space where they can be heard. And there are a lot of people who feel like they’re not allowed that, he said. “And personally—that’s me personally. Like saying it like me personally. I believe people have a right to be heard. Whether you agree with them or not is entirely up to you. That’s your perspective, right? But, you know, the day we don’t let people speak is the day we kill free speech, I think,” he said. Komer toured this newspaper at the church, located on St. Patrick and Cumberland, outlining the potential the United People of Canada sees. They envisioned a community cafe and patio, a co-working space and a social enterprise, welcoming to those of all means. The church’s history of hosting events could be continued and extended outdoors, with a stage and sound-blocking barriers so as not to disturb the surrounding community. It could even serve as a 24/7 safe space, Komer suggested, if someone is escaping a difficult domestic situation, for example, and would like to bring provincial and territorial and various First Nations flags to the Canada.

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The Rectory Art House, part of Saint Brigid’s Center for the Arts, is part of the property The United People of Canada is in the process of purchasing. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Already, they’ve welcomed volunteers and don’t ask background questions, he said. An aide, a resident at the Shepherds of Good Hope shelter, told them it was “the only day he could remember not having any stress or anything,” Comer recalled. A businessman originally from London, Ont., Komer is one of three listed directors of the non-profit organization United People of Canada, which was incorporated on March 24. He was open about his own time spent in Ottawa for the January-February “Freedom” Convoy protest: “As a documentary filmmaker, I was covering what was going on there from an investigative standpoint.” Its board members, Diane Nolan and Kimberley Ward, have their own connections to the protest (this newspaper sought interviews with both on Monday, but were told they would not be available for interviews before the deadline of the deadline).

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Nolan often posted about her presence on Facebook. In a live video from the Wellington-Rideau Street area on Feb. 18 — the day police moved in to clear the protesters — he encouraged onlookers to come downtown. “I don’t know that they’re going to know what to do when there’s so many people here guys,” he said, later remarking, “This is a protest, for our freedom. They’ll thank us later, they just haven’t figured it out yet.” Ward was in Ottawa court on March 7 to support entourage leader Tamara Lich when she was released on bail. (Lich has since been returned to prison awaiting trial after a judge ruled that she had violated the terms of her release.) Ward exited the courthouse and addressed Lich’s supporters gathered outside, thanking them, calling it a “victory” and assuring them that Lich would appear soon, according to a live stream of the event from Live from the Shed, a media company. which promotes and publicizes “freedom of movement” events.

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“We did it! Everyone’s happy,” Ward said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.” Ward said a prayer, praising God and Canada and saying that Lich may have been through a lot, but (God) will use it for good. “Often the person who does a lot of work is also the person who sacrifices and suffers.” When Lich exited the courthouse, Ward followed her into the back seat of a waiting truck that was driven away. Lich’s husband, Dwayne Lich, is himself a supporter of the United People of Canada’s Ottawa project, Komer said Sunday, adding that this does not mean he is affiliated with the “Freedom Convoy” and that he is personally unaware of any support. Dwayne had. became of the escort. The pinned post on Dwayne’s Facebook profile page is a link to the TUPOC website, and he’s been posting about the organization there since late March, including photos and videos of TUPOC-branded merchandise, the transformation of St. Brigid’s (now red-painted doors and TUPOC banners plastered on its exterior) and event posts for their weekly BBQs.

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On April 16, Dwayne changed his cover photo to an image of a chalk wall with the words “The United People of Canada” along with “Freedom” and “We the Fringe.” Before that, it was a selfie of Dwayne, Komer, and Ward, all three wearing TUPOC-branded hoodies. Currently listed for sale for $5.95 million, real estate records show the St. Brigid has been sold conditionally, with conditions to be met by October 11, 2022. Komer said they are in the process of due diligence for now and The future purchase includes the church, which includes a 699-seat concert hall, pews and original decor church, as well as a pub and events space in the basement — as well as two adjacent buildings, which house artists’ studios, businesses and some residences.

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The property purchase is being fully funded by the community, Komer said, including through donations and a community bond campaign. One topic he kept coming back to was the allegations he sees circulating…