2 arrested after encampment at National War Memorial dismantled
An encampment adjacent to the National War Memorial was dismantled Saturday morning, according to Ottawa police.
The camp was set up by a fringe protest group calling itself the Canadian Revolution in a patch of green space next to the National War Memorial in early July.
It had become a base for Canadian Revolution members who roamed the area around Parliament Hill, approaching politicians and journalists.
Police officers were on site at approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday to assist the federal government, which owns the property, in dismantling the camp.
Three people were occupying the camp at the time.
"The [Ottawa Police Service's] role this morning was to keep the peace," said Const. Martin Dompierre.
"We respect the right of those who wish to demonstrate it, but we worked with Public Service and Procurement Canada and the City of Ottawa to ensure the encampment is vacated and dismantled in a safely and orderly manner."
Officers and city workers remained on scene into the late morning as the encampment was dismantled. Police left around 11:30 a.m.
Dompierre said two people were arrested.
One person was released on a promise to appear. The other was taken into custody after refusing to identify himself.
According to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the protestors were notified through a written notice on Thursday that they needed to leave the premises.
In a statement, the department said temporary fencing around the grounds has now been installed so that the site can be properly restored in advance of the upcoming anniversary of the death of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, as well as next month's national Remembrance Day ceremony.
PSPC also said annual work to prepare the site for winter will now be completed.
