‘Freedom Rally’ affidavits reveal new evidence surrounding Kelowna, B.C. protests – Okanagan | 24CA News

Global News has obtained the affidavits within the City of Kelowna’s try to put an finish to the so-called ‘Freedom Rallies’ at Stuart Park.

Since the autumn of 2020, protests in opposition to provincial and federal COVID-19 restrictions and well being orders have been organized and held at Kelowna, B.C.’s Stuart Park.

But after over two years of weekly rallies, the town’s endurance has run out.

A lawsuit was just lately filed by the City in opposition to the organizer, David Lindsay, John Doe, Jane Doe, and a number of other others who weren’t named.

“We proceed with an injunction when other, lesser means of enforcement aren’t effective,” defined Kelowna Bylaw Services supervisor Kevin Mead.

“In this case, with the administration of over 200 tickets and no change in behaviour, it’s time to take it to the next step.”

In the courtroom doc, one metropolis bylaw officer remembers one occasion on Oct. 30, 2022, when he witnessed “a number of persons obstructing traffic by walking down the middle of the roadway on Water Street and Doyle Avenue, then onto St. Paul Street, to Bernard Avenue and back down to Water Street to stand and protest along Highway 97.”

Downtown Kelowna Association’s govt director Mark Burley says these rallies have precipitated complications for a lot of business house owners within the downtown core.

“Businesses in downtown Kelowna want their customers to be able to visit them and they don’t want to have any impedances to do so,” mentioned Downtown Kelowna Association’s govt director, Mark Burley.

“If you park your car out in front of a business wherever, and all of a sudden there’s a parade going by and you can’t get out, all of a sudden this becomes a big issue.”

The affidavits additionally reveal a plethora of proof from a bylaw officer, together with photos, occasions and dates the place the organizers have been issued tickets and fines from the officer on a number of events, all of which have been ignored.

“If you’re going to set up to protest or make people aware of what it is you don’t like, that’s fine, but once you start setting tents up, selling t-shirts and wares and stuff like that, then get a permit,” mentioned Burley.

“When we do winter street markets, Downtown Kelowna Association, we have to get a permit.”

For roughly three years, the rallies have been held weekly, however organizers say rallies will now be held as soon as a month.

Meanwhile, it’s nonetheless unknown when the file will go earlier than a choose.

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