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Ottawa police say they’re working to reassure and support the city’s 2SLGBTQ+ community in the wake of an attack that left one person dead and 29 injured at a Pride event in Berlin last weekend.
“We recognize that violence directed at a community during an event intended to celebrate identity, inclusion and belonging can cause fear and distress well beyond the location where it occurred,” the police service said in a news release.
“We are mindful of the impact this will have on members of Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, particularly during times of celebration and community gathering.”
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said Monday that members will attend “planned community events” to provide support. Police did not specify which events, or when.
“[We have] also directed frontline officers to proactively attend key community locations to enhance visibility, provide reassurance, and promote the safety and well-being of Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities,” OPS said.
“We are working closely with … organizations and community partners to coordinate our efforts and ensure we remain responsive to community needs as preparations continue for the upcoming Pride parade and related events.”
Callie Metler, executive director of Capital Pride, said talks will continue around reviewing security as the 2SLGBTQ+ community grapples with Berlin attack. (Jodie Applewaithe/CBC)
Capital Pride, whose annual Summer Pride Festival will take place in Ottawa from Aug. 22-30, has said it will review its security measures for the upcoming parade and related events.
“We’re very saddened to hear of the tragic events, and also of course we’re layering in conversations about what happened in Berlin to our emergency and safety planning,” said Callie Metler, executive director of Capital Pride.
Metler said Capital Pride met with OPS on Monday for a discussion that was already scheduled before the attack in Berlin.
She added that talks are ongoing around the possibility of increasing police presence, with more meetings planned in the lead-up to Pride.
“We are certainly already doing everything we can to avoid and have mitigation measures in place in Ottawa,” she said.
Capital Pride hires its own private security and is required to have paid-duty police officers for the street festival and the parade to manage traffic and road closures, Metler said. Any costs for additional safety response from police would be handled by OPS.
“If there’s any other concerns around public safety that the police have, then that’s something that they take on,” Metler said.
“We’ll continue to work closely together about what their plans are as we get closer to the date at the end of August.”
Somerset Ward Coun. Ariel Troster says she wants to reassure people that Pride is still safe. (Anchal Sharma/CBC)Long history of standing up to hate
Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said she supports Capital Pride working with the city to keep the event safe, adding that the community has a long history of standing up to hate.
“After gay men were arrested and beaten inside bathhouses, we took to the streets. We have been fighting for our rights for a very long time. I wouldn’t have been able to marry my wife 16 years ago if it wasn’t for a movement like this,” she said.
“I think the way that we fight hatred is through solidarity, through bravery, through continuing to come together.”
Pride remains safe, Troster added.
“It’s still a wonderful and important celebration, and I really hope that people will join us.”