Carriage Supporters Question Treatment of Protesters
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Development DEVELOPMENTS lakereport.ca PAGES 3, 6 and 7 Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake The Issue 6 LakeAugust 1, 2018 ReportNiagara-on-the-Lake YOUA police officer stops two men on horsebackSHALL from approaching Saturday’s protest.(Richard Harley)NOT PASS Carriage supporters question treatment of protesters Richard Harley used for work or human gain Police also recommended was better, and that it was un- Editor in any way. the Town close off separate fair to be placed in a turning News of the protest — sections of the road for lane in “active traffic.” The Town of Niagara- which organizer Adam both protesters and coun- Local carriage supporter on-the-Lake’s decision to Stirr had said could draw as ter-protesters, to keep both Eric VanNoort said although close off a section of King many as 200 people — also parties distanced. they were given a dedicated Street and grant a group of garnered significant media A section of King Street spot on the road too, they felt protesters free parking along attention locally and sparked was closed off during the safer on the curb and instead Simcoe Park on Saturday a response from supporters protest for AWFAN support- stood where the carriages had some counter-protesters of Sentineal Carriages, who ers and a left turning lane on normally operate. questioning how fairly the arranged a counter-rally. Queen Street was closed off Lord Mayor Pat Darte, situation was handled. Free carriage rides had for Sentineal supporters. who attended the rally, said The protesters, mostly also been planned for that A group of around 25 everything done — in- members and supporters of day by Fred and Laura carriage supporters showed cluding offering parking local activist group At War Sentineal, owners of the up, including the Sentineals, spaces and selecting spots for Animals Niagara, were al- carriage business, though despite the family heeding to section off — was based lowed to use several parking after a number of meetings police advice and canceling on recommendations by spots on King Street beside between members of AW- the carriage rides, as well as Niagara Regional Police. Simcoe Park after organizing FAN, Sentineal Carriages recommending that support- He supported their recom- a protest against Sentineal and local law enforcement, ers stay home through social mendations, he said, with Carriages, a local business it was recommended by media, email and phone calls. the welfare of both parties that operates a horse and car- police that the Sentineals Some of the counter- in mind. riage service in town. not operate the carriage protesters who did attend ex- Continued on Page 2 The group believes ani- business during the protest pressed they felt the location mals should not be bred or due to safety concerns. given to AWFAN supporters Page 2 Original Art Show August 1, 2018 and Sale August 4 & 5 niagarapumphouse.ca 10am - 5pm 247 Ricardo Street, NEWS NOTL 905 468 5455 Free entry! Carriage supporters question treatment Continued from Front Page. the horses to get close. Fred and Laura Sentineal “I have to be objective. agreed bringing horses in My job is to listen to both at the time wasn’t a good sides and act accordingly,” idea, though they said they Darte said. appreciated the sentiment and “(It was) all suggested by support from the riders. the NRP … they said the Darte also agreed the best way is to give everybody horses wouldn’t have been their own little space and go safe there given how busy from there.” the street corner was with Stirr said AWFAN, police both the protest and jazz and the Town came to terms festival happening simulta- for parking because protest- neously. He also noted one ers had expressed concerns of the horses didn’t seem their cars may be targeted by to be under control, having Sentineal supporters, and to almost walked into a car on not obstruct business at the the street after being con- Prince of Wales. fronted by a police officer The counter-protesters, waving his arms. Darte said, didn’t ask for While the protest remained parking space, although he non-violent, and Stirr made pointed down the road to efforts to ensure AWFAN Municipal Park, noting he supporters stayed under con- believed most of the counter- trol, one carriage supporter protesters, mainly locals, had reported messages being sent planned to park there. to them during the protest He also noted the Town’s by AWFAN supporters to lost parking revenue would be police. The messages, she Police stopped two Sentineal Carriage supporters on horseback from approaching Saturday’s protest. (Richard Harley) insignificant as it was only a said, were provoking, telling four-hour protest. He estimat- the carriage supporters they ed it may have cost the Town a “looked sad” and asking if couple-hundred dollars. they wanted a hug. When asked what his Stirr said by a head count response was to counter- there were around 75 AW- protesters who weren’t happy FAN supporters at the rally they didn’t get free parking, throughout the day. he said the Town wasn’t Overall the afternoon went aware of what the counter- smoothly, police officers on protesters had planned until a scene said. few days prior to the event. People passing by had “If we had known who mixed reactions, showing was in charge and all that, support for both sides. then we could have planned Some bystanders noted something different.” what they referred to a “hy- During meetings with pocrisy” from the protesters, counter-protesters parking such as one of them having “never came up,” he said. their pet dog with them. Oth- Eric VanNoort and Inge Enns, supporter of Sentineal Protesters were vocal, singing and chanting and holding Darte, who wouldn’t com- ers pointed out some were Carriages. Enns still rides her horse at 88. (Richard Harley) various signs. (Richard Harley) ment on his personal views wearing what appeared to be regarding the protest or its leather, and some had tattoos message — though he has — which can contain animal family members that own byproducts such as bone char horses — said it “comes and gelatin from hoofs. down to everybody’s funda- Stirr said the dog, a small mental rights as a Canadian.” greyhound, was a rescue, “It doesn’t matter if you and clarified AWFAN does live here, or P.E.I. or any- not think rescuing an ani- where else, you’ve got the mal is wrong. The group, he same rights.” said, is against the specific During the event, local po- breeding of animals and lice kept a tight watch on the making any animal “work situation and recommended for human gain,” including group members not have service animals. contact with one another. Henry Swierenga, a Some carriage supporters service representative with expressed they’d been made the Ontario Federation of to feel by police that they Agriculture, who attended the weren’t allowed to speak to protest in support of Sentineal the protesters, though police Carriages, said the protest is a officers on scene said it was concern for the OFA. a recommendation and that “Any time there is outside nobody would be arrested if organizations or agencies they did have a conversation. that want to impact normal In the afternoon two farm practice, then that be- supporters of the carriage comes a concern for us. And company rode their horses this certainly is a concern Protesters stayed to their dedicated part of the road for the most part. (Richard Harley) towards the protest and were for us,” he said. stopped by a police officer “What the Sentineal family this is one method they think many species in this world Stirr said AWFAN sup- in solidarity with AWFAN and made to turn around. is doing is normal farm prac- they can use to gain attention that rely on one another. ports symbiotic relations in members that day and sent Although it is legal to tice as far as we’re concerned. and bank-roll their efforts.” Like those relationships, the nature, but that he doesn’t photos of anti-carriage ride a horse on a public The animal welfare is not A supporter of Sentineal Sentineal horses — some of believe horses and humans events in Italy, The United road, the police officer an issue, the horses are well Carriages who wished not to them rescued from slaugh- qualify, noting humans have States and Canada. who stopped them said he cared-for. We’re dealing with be named said the relation- ter auctions — are fed and selectively bred horses for Protests continued unof- believed the horses being a philosophical difference of ship between man and these housed by the Sentineals specific uses. ficially Sunday. Stirr said there would have been a opinion here. (AWFAN) has a types of work horses can be and in turn, they provide the He said animal rights AWFAN members “aren’t safety concern and based goal to shut down animal ag- looked at as almost symbi- Sentineals with the ability to groups in 13 other cities going anywhere,” even in the on discretion did not allow riculture in this province, and otic, pointing out there are feed and house themselves. around the world held events winter months. Page 3 August 1, 2018 NEWS APPLICATIONS Marotta submits revised Randwood application cially viable, and without the height, the building would require a larger footprint on the property. Craig Larmour, the Town’s planning director, said he received Marotta’s revised submission a little more than a week ago, and his depart- ment will be reviewing it to ensure it meets the direction of the Town’s municipal heri- tage committee and urban design committee.