The United People of Canada
Formation2022
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersLondon, Ontario
Key people
William Komer
Kimberly Ward (former)
Diane Nolan (former)
Websitewww.tupoc.ca

The United People of Canada (also known as TUPOC and TUPC) is a Canadian not-for-profit organisation, based in London, Ontario.

TUPOC started the process of buying Saint Brigid's Church in the Lower Town neighbourhood of Ottawa in July 2022, launched its own private security force shortly thereafter, and was served an eviction notice in August 2022 after community objections, failing to pay the rent, failing to provide insurance and the sale of the building falling through.

Organization

The group is partly funded by investment adviser, financial planner, and owner of Planmar Financial Corp, Tony Cuzzocrea.[1] The organisation's directors are William Komer, Kimberly Ward and Diane Nolan.[2] The organisation is a not-for-profit[2] and describes itself as a "social enterprise" and as a "diverse, intergenerational fraternal organisation".[3]

The organisation is also known by its acronym TUPOC,[4] and occasionally as TUPC.[5] It is based in London, Ontario.[6]

Reception by community

The organisation's attempted purchase of St Brigid's church was controversial in the community. Many residents objected to the support the organisation voiced for the 2022 Trucker Convoy protest in Ottawa.[7] The organisation denies any connection with the convoy. The refusal of the group to vacate the church led to small, localised protests in the area, as well as small clashes between the TUPOC organisation and protesters. TUPOC organisers on several occasions used water guns on journalists and protesters.[8] Local residents also alleged harassment from the organisation while they were based out of the building.[9] The organisation frequently made threats of private prosecution against individuals it felt committed crimes against the organisation. TUPOC organisers claimed alleged police discrimination as the reason no protesters had been charged criminally, thought complaints made of this nature against police were dismissed. As of 2022, no prosecutions by the organisation have resulted in charges.[10]

History

The organisation occupied and started the process purchasing Saint Brigid's Church in July 2022,[11] converting it into what it called an "embassy".[12][13] The historical building, a former Roman Catholic church in Ottawa’s Lower Town was deconsecrated in 2006 and sold. The new owners established it as a community centre before its planned sale to TUPOC in 2022.[12] TUPOC director William Komer stated that the organisation plans to buy more former churches and schools.[1] The conditional offer to buy the church subsequently fell though.[14]

Responding to press enquiries, Komer also stated that the organisation was distinct from the organisers of the Canada convoy protest.[12][15] The organisation shared its plans to create a cafe, a co-working space, and a stage for musical performances and events.[12]

After reports of the theft of the organisation's banner and flags, the addition of graffiti, and the receipt of death threats towards members, the organisation created a private security force in August 2022.[13][16] The same month, there was an online petition and poster campaign in Ottawa, objecting to the group's planned purchase of Saint Brigid's Church.[17]

After accumulating $10,000 of rent arrears and failing to provide proof of liability insurance, TUPOC was served an eviction notice on August 17, 2022 with bailiffs changing the locks on the 18th.[11] Residents protested TUPOC's ongoing occupation of the church on August 21, 2022.[18] On September 23, 2022, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that TUPOC had materially breached the sale agreement by failing to make required payments despite two extensions, granted the eviction application, and awarded $53,000 in damages to the owners.[19]

TUPOC appealed the court's decision in May 2023[20] and the appeal was dismissed June 5, 2023. A panel of judges in Ontario's Divisional Court unanimously agreed that there were "a number of problems" with TUPOC's appeal, including misreading sections of the Commercial Tenancies Act which their case depended on.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Backer behind St. Brigid's property purchase all about love and inclusion, wants to open 'mini Disney World'". ottawacitizen. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Williams, Nicole (August 4, 2022). "Some community advocates want city to step in on sale of St. Brigid's church". CBC. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Crash involving city vehicle caught on camera and police insist Ottawa is safe: Top five stories this week". Ottawa. July 23, 2022. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ Forrest, Maura (August 5, 2022). "Meet the new neighbors". POLITICO. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Future of group in St. Brigid's Church in question after possible eviction attempt". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 18, 2022. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ "London financier downplays link to convoy organizers in purchase of former Ottawa church". lfpress. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ "'Go home!': Residents protest TUPOC group remaining at Ottawa church". Ottawa. August 21, 2022. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "St. Brigid's church owner: 'The water pistol brigade has to stop'". Ottawa. September 2, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Standoff continues over TUPOC's lease with St. Brigid's". ottawacitizen. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ Taekema, Dana (August 24, 2022). "TUPC says it's prepared to use private prosecution at St. Brigid's. Here's what that means". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Pringle, Josh (August 18, 2022). "Freedom Convoy-affiliated group being evicted from Ottawa church". Ottawa. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "An inside look at the Ottawa church property turned 'Embassy' for the United People of Canada". Ottawa. July 31, 2022. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Taekema, Dan (August 10, 2022). "Controversial group creates 'private security force' to guard former church". CBC. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  14. ↑ Gray, Mackenzie (August 19, 2022). "Sale of Ottawa church to 'Freedom Convoy'-affiliated group falls through, but leader says deal is still on". CTVNews. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  15. ↑ Taekema, Dan (July 19, 2022). "Questions swirl about group that's set up 'embassy' at St. Brigid's in Lowertown". CBC. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ottawa police 'proactively engaged' with group building private security force at former St. Brigid's property in Lowertown". ottawacitizen. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  17. ↑ "St. Brigid's church tenants want charges laid against poster campaigners". Ottawa. August 17, 2022. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  18. ↑ Pringle, Josh (August 21, 2022). "'Go home!': Residents protest TUPOC group remaining at Ottawa church". Ottawa. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  19. ↑ Woods, Michael (September 23, 2022). "Judge orders eviction of Freedom Convoy-affiliated group from Ottawa church". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ "The United People of Canada appeal 'unlawful' eviction from former church". ottawacitizen. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Court dismisses TUPC's appeal to return to St. Brigid's". cbc. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
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