Who are the group that bought St. Brigid’s?

Good morning!

Hope you’re staying cool out there. It is once again seven inches from the moday sun out there.

That hasn’t stopped me from drinking coffee this week though. Our food and drink editor Ralf also spends a bit of time as a hobbyist coffee roaster, and at our meet-up last week he gifted Geoff and I a taste of his latest batch Really magnificent, so good I couldn’t bring myself to take the time to cold brew it.

Lots to get through today, so let us get to it.

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Weather Report

Heat warning

Wednesday: 31 🌡️ 22 | ⛈

Thursday: 27 🌡️ 18 | 🌧

Friday: 30 🌡️ 18 | ☀

What is the “United People of Canada Embassy”?

What’s happening: A not-for-profit group called the United People of Canada is in the process of buying the deconsecrated St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Lowertown, which up until the pandemic was used as an events and arts centre.

On its website, the group, which launched in May, cryptically describes itself as a “diverse, intergenerational fraternal organization” which celebrates Canada’s “unique culture and heritage.”

There are concerns in the neighbourhood about possible connections to the convoy protests, connections the group denies.

• As Coun. Mathieu Fleury, who represents the area, told the Ottawa Citizen, the group’s arrival has caused “a lot of community angst, a lot of community questions. … Lowertown residents were directly impacted by the convoy, and those wounds are recent and they’re deep.”

United People board member William Komer told the Citizen he was at the convoy protests as a documentary filmmaker. Another member of the group’s board, Diane Nolan, posted frequently about her time at the protest, according to the Citizen. And a third board member Kimberley Ward was at the courthouse when convoy leader Tamara Lich was first released on bail in March, emerging from the hearing to speak with Lich’s supporters, the Citizen reported.

Group insists no convoy ties: Komer repeatedly told the Citizen and CBC the group is not affiliated with the convoy movement that took over the downtown this winter.

• “We're also not Nazis, racist, misogynist, or whatever else is defamatory, libellous writing online, that we understand is both a no-no civilly and potentially criminal culpability for individuals,” Komer told the broadcaster

“Are there persons that you might associate or … publicly are seen as involved in the freedom movement interested in maybe booking venue space here? I think there are, because we’re open and we don’t discriminate,” said to the Citizen.

Komer told both CBC and the Citizen the group was willing to pursue legal action against people spreading allegations about United People.

• Multi-millions: The church is still listed online for sale, at $5.95 million. The Citizen and CBC reported the property has been conditionally sold, to be completed by Oct. 11 if conditions are met.

The money question: It’s not clear where the group got the money to buy the church. Both CBC and the Citizen report was incorporated as a non-profit in late March. Komer told both outlets United People raised its money from the community, but didn’t offer the names of any donors.

Recent shootings have residents worried

Recent spike: Because of recent shootings, in Alta Vista and Lowertown, the Ottawa police are trying to calm residents about crime in the city. Police Superintendent Jamie Dunlop told CTV the city is not a dangerous one. “Ottawa compared to other major cities in Canada remains a safe city,” said.

Crime down: Dunlop told CTV crime is actually down this year, despite what it may feel like:

• “Reality, year-to-date, we are down 34 percent, but when you have a number of incidents really tight succession together, you know two shootings resulting in two homicides, two individuals being hit,” the superintendent said to the broadcaster.

Longer-term trends: Overall crime in the city is down when compared to the average, according to the most recent Ottawa police statistics from last year. The five-year average for “crimes against the person” — which includes murder, attempted murder, assault, and so on — is 6,984 incidents per year, the majority of which are assaults.

Other key statistics include:

• 6,680 charges last year, which is below the five-year average.

• There have been nine homicides so far this year. This is in line with the recent five-year average of 15 per year.

Doctors push back against Ottawa Hospital sick note policy

What happened: Ottawa doctors are unhappy with a policy at the Ottawa Hospital requiring employees to get a sick note from a physician if they are off sick.

The problem:They’ re concerned this adds more work to a system already stretched thin. Dr. Nicole Shadbolt called it on Twitter “Unnecessary added work for family docs. We’re not your sick day police.”

TOH response: The Ottawa Hospital told CTV they’ve had the policy for some time, and the policy is to “ensure staff are receiving active treatment and helps them support a safe and timely return to work.”

Another family doctor said the policy was questionable when people were suffering from a mild illness. “Family doctors are already extremely overwhelmed by everything else happening in the community,” Dr. Christine Tai told CFRA.

In other health news

Brewer testing continues: Originally set to close today, the COVID testing centre at Brewer Park will stay open. The reason? An increase in COVID-19 levels, according to the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce. The site on Moodie Drive will close on Friday, CTV reported.

COVID levels still rising: In their weekly COVID statement, Ottawa Public Health said on Twitter the wastewater signal is still high and increasing, the testing positivity rate is “very high” and increasing, and hospital admissions are moderate and increasing. OPH also said anyone who doesn’t have a booster should get one. (Your newsletter writer got his latest booster Sunday!)

• “Two doses do not offer enough protection against these latest variants/sub-variants, and natural immunity from a COVID infection isn’t enough, either,” the agency said on Twitter.

You can book a vaccine appointment through the provincial portal or through a local pharmacy.

Heat warning in effect for today

High temperatures: A heat warning has been issued for the city and much of eastern Ontario by Environment Canada. Temperatures of about 31 are expected again today, and the humidex will be in the high 30s. While it’s possible the heat could also increase the Air Quality Health Index, it’s forecasted it will stay in the 3 “low risk” category today and tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop below 30 tomorrow.

• Ottawa Public Health has put together a map so you can find places to cool off near you.

CBC has put together a good guide for the symptoms to watch out for heat-related illnesses, and you can find other resources here from Ottawa Public Health.

House of the week

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why doesn’t my dining room table doesn’t have an unobstructed view directly onto the Peace Tower?” If that describes you, your search is over with this condo.

It includes:

• A view of Parliament;

• Two beds, two baths;

• Ten-foot ceilings;

• Building amenities including: a sauna, pet spa, theatre, and party room.

To see how much this view is worth, check out the listing.

Stories you might've missed

Pat King released on bail: The convoy leader Pat King was released on bail Monday after spending five months in jail. As part of his many conditions, King had to return to Alberta immediately, have no contact with other leaders, not protest, and stay off of social media and give no interviews. [CBC]

Shopify reduces internships: Local tech giant Shopify is going to cut the number of student internships because of a massive 80-percent fall in its stock price. The company isn’t cancelling any offers it has already signed on, but won’t be recruiting any further. Shopify is also cutting back on hiring in other parts of its business. [OBJ]

Teacher talks begin: Talks between the Ontario government and one of the biggest unions representing teachers and other school staff started as scheduled. The latest contract ends Aug. 31, and workers are asking for higher wages to combat inflation and better conditions for students. [The Canadian Press]

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Community highlights

• Friends of a Queen’s University football coach have raised more than $13,000 as he recovers from surgery. [Ottawa Citizen

• One great way to beat the heat is with a cool treat. Our food editor Ralf has a guide for some of the best ice cream and gelato in town.

• Two bridges along the 417 in the west end won’t be replaced for the time being due to an ongoing strike. [CTV]

• Nothing beats a good sandwich, and Ralf has some great ideas to grab a quick one all around town.

• Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark have a new chief medical officer of health. [CityNews]

• The Kemptville Music Festival is back this year with shows by Glass Tiger, Tom Cochrane, and a Randy Bachman-Burton Cummings reunion. [CityNews]

• If you’ve lost your dog in Barrhaven, one Reddit user may have found it.

Ottawa GeoGuesser

Ottawa GeoGuesser proved so popular we’re making it a permanent part of the newsletter!

Can you guess where this new photo is located? Exact location of neighbourhood is fine. Include your name and if you answer is correct, we’ll share it in the next newsletter.

Today's top photo

Today’s top photo comes from long-time reader Ron Dennis, who took this shot from the Arboretum, overlooking Dow’s Lake.

Latest COVID stats

Note: Ottawa Public Health is now only updating COVID stats twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Because of the Lookout’s publishing schedule, this means the numbers here may be out of date. For the most recent stats, see the OPH COVID Dashboard.

• Active Cases: 1,032

• Total deaths: 832

• Ottawans In Hospital: 32

• Ottawans In ICU: 3

• Acute Beds Occupied: 93%

• ICU Beds Occupied: 70%

• ICU Ventilator Beds Occupied: 21%

Previous Lookout editions

• Hot and dry conditions brings a fire ban - read more

• The first mayoral campaign clash - read more

• How should we pay to operate OC Transpo? - read more