Lowertown residents hoping to turn St. Brigid’s Church into space that benefits community

Now that a group loosely associated with the 'Freedom Convoy' protest in Canada's capital last winter has been evicted from a former church east of downtown Ottawa, the Lowertown Community Association is looking to make the establishment a space that benefits the community. 

Ontario Superior Court Justice Sally Gomery said 'The United People of Canada' (TUPOC) breached an agreement of purchase and sale with the property’s owners.

Gomery found the group violated the agreement by failing to pay deposits totalling $100,000 on Aug. 10 despite two extensions of the deadline.

The group argued it had not materially breached any agreement with the owners and asked the court to allow members to stay.

The dispute took on a surreal air over the summer, with group members defending the property with water guns while dressed in red capes and dish gloves.

“To hear the eviction process has been executed and they have been asked to leave and have in fact left the building is a huge relief to all of us in the community,” said Sylvie Bigras, the president of the Lowertown Community Association on The Sam Laprade Show on Sept. 26. 

Bigras added that residents expressed concerned when they discovered a loose affiliation between members of TUPOC and the 'Freedom Convoy'.

“Convoy messaging was difficult to see and made people fearful,” she said. “It's terrible when you live and work in a community where you have to walk around fearing for what may happen.”

Bigras noted that the community group is working with the area councillor, Mathieu Fleury, in hopes of transforming St. Brigid's Church into a positive space for the community.

With files from The Canadian Press.

Listen to the full interview with Sylvie Bigras below: