Capital Pride executive director Callie Metler said Ottawa police would decide whether additional security measures are needed following the deadly attack at a Pride event in Berlin and that the force would cover the cost of any extra public safety response.
Metler said the organization already works closely with Ottawa police, city officials and private security to prepare for the festival and parade each year. While Capital Pride pays for officers to manage traffic and road closures during the event, any additional public safety response would be handled by police.
“When we have paid-duty officers at the festival and at the parade, it’s to manage signalized intersections,” Metler said. “Any additional public safety measures would be taken on by OPS and that would be at their discretion.”
Metler said she met with Ottawa police Monday morning (July 27) as part of regularly scheduled planning meetings already in place ahead of the parade .
The meetings took on added significance after a deadly attack at Berlin’s Pride celebrations over the weekend, where authorities say a man drove a vehicle into a crowd before carrying out a stabbing attack that killed one person and injured 29 others.
“We’re devastated to hear that another Pride event is under attack,” Metler said. “Safety and security is always top of mind for organizers, even if it’s not top of mind for attendees and participants.”
In a statement, Ottawa police said they are continuing to work closely with Capital Pride and community partners ahead of next month’s celebrations and will “continue to assess community needs and adjust our policing presence as appropriate.”
Metler said Capital Pride is planning for about 100,000 people to take part in this year’s parade , with more than 300 groups registered for the parade and street festival.
This year’s parade route is different than before, with the march beginning at Wellington and Booth streets before travelling east on Wellington and turning south onto Bank Street, ending at the intersection of Bank and Slater streets.
Metler had previously said the new route allows for improved crowd management and security planning.
She said the festival relies on a “layered” approach to security that extends beyond a police presence.
Along with planning with Ottawa police and the city’s Special Events Advisory Team, Capital Pride has trained more than 400 volunteers in de-escalation techniques and emergency response. Staff and volunteer team leaders will also receive more intensive training in the coming weeks.
The festival also deploys community safety marshals, whom Metler described as additional “eyes and ears” during events.
“Police presence doesn’t always increase feelings of safety for everyone,” she said. “That’s why we take a multi-layered approach to ensure that we are increasing those feelings of safety for everyone who wants to come out and enjoy.”
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe posted to social media on Sunday, July 26, that he had spoken with Capital Pride’s board chair, David Breault , and Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs following the Berlin attack, adding that the city and police would “do everything possible” to ensure the safety of participants during the city’s Pride celebrations.
The Capital Pride parade is scheduled for Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.
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