Rideau Centre reopens to public Tuesday after 24-day closure

It’s been nearly a month since the Rideau Centre temporarily closed, but that’s all about to come to an end.

The shopping centre, which was forced to shut its doors due to the ongoing truck convoy demonstration, will be re-opening to the public as of Tuesday, February 22.

The news was confirmed to CityNews by Rideau-Vanier city councillor Mathieu Fleury on Monday, February 21.

“We’re relieved,” Fleury said. “We were asking for police and demanding and begging for police actions over the last 20 days or so. Obviously, with the beginning of the police operations on Friday and where we’re at today on Monday, we’re very relieved. Residents can start to get their lives back and businesses can start to reopen in my area, which is an important step.”

The Rideau Centre, Fleury said, has been closed since the first weekend of the protest starting on January 28. 

“Today is Family Day, which is a bit different,” he said. “Usually businesses would be quite busy. The Rideau Canal remains closed and the Rideau Centre would be busy and the local businesses — specifically on Rideau and the ByWard Market — would greatly benefit this weekend, specifically today on Family Day.”

But it’s important for residents — and the city — to stay alert. The situation, he said, may not be done yet.

“It’s remains very challenging,” Fleury explained. “We’re not out of the woods. We have to stay vigilant. The checkpoints remain in place, but the relief of the occupation ending and the trucks being gone and the police action really regaining our city is really important.”

City crews can still be seen around Ottawa’s downtown areas cleaning up after the demonstration that gripped the city for over 20 days.

Ottawa Police have not yet said when the secure perimeter restricting traffic in the downtown will be lifted.