Group occupying St. Brigid's calls claims it violated Heritage Act bogus

Photo: Pierre-Paul Couture/CBC

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Eviction notices taped to the door of a historic church in Lowertown claim the members of The United People of Canada (TUPC) violated the province's Heritage Act, but the group, which continues to stay at St. Brigid's despite attempts by the current owners to change the locks, disagrees.

The group with ties to the Freedom Convoy first raised eyebrows in the neighbourhood when it hung large banners with white tree insignia on them and painted the doors to the heritage building red.

It's been occupying the deconsecrated church for months, as tenants and according to one of the groups leaders as potential owners through a conditional sale agreement.

That changed Wednesday when the sale of fell apart and eviction notices were posted announcing the lease was terminated due to $10,000 in unpaid rent and failure to provide liability insurance in the amount of $5 million.

The building has now been relisted for sale, but TUPC members show no signs of leaving.

A bailiff hired by the current owners first appeared to change the locks on Wednesday and has showed up periodically since at 310 St. Patrick Street. The locks were changed at the Rectory Art House next door on Thursday.

Those written notices also say TUPC is in violation Ontario Heritage Act for changing the appearance of the premises without the written approval of the Ontario Heritage Foundation, as well as the Ontario Building Code Act "for failing to obtain necessary permits and approvals for construction works," at the site.

One of TUPC's main organizers and directors, William Komer, says this is the latest tactic of St. Brigid's owners to "unlawfully evict'' the group.

"Is that stuff posted there their stuff that needs to come into compliance, or is that something they're trying to pin on us? I don't know. Right. But I know we haven't done any substantial renovations," Komer said.

He says any violations were there before TUPC moved in.

St. Brigid's heritage status includes interior

St. Brigid's is unusual in its heritage status because the designation includes a requirement to protect its interior, according to Heritage Ottawa, a volunteer-run group advocating for historical buildings in the nation's capital.

Those inside elements include wainscotting, the pews and the confessionals.

Heritage Ottawa wrote a letter to the city asking it to ensure the building's "special character-defining elements" are preserved.

"Can you please provide us with some reassurance that the city will rigorously enforce the heritage protections afforded this property and how it intends to do this?" the letter reads.

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