Kelowna RCMP investigating alleged racist rant by protester at vaccine clinic
Police in Kelowna are investigating after a protester outside a COVID-19 vaccination clinic was recorded verbally abusing a security guard.
Video of the incident recorded by Carli Berry for Infonews.ca shows a man holding a sign and speaking angrily to the guard, who is wearing a turban.
"Shut up," the man says in the video. "Go back to your country. You're not a Canadian."
He later tells the security guard to "go back to India."
"Beat it," he says. "You're disgusting."
Berry identifies the man insulting the security guard as Bruce Orydzuk, a Kelowna resident who was allegedly participating in an anti-vaccination protest outside of the vaccine clinic. Berry says Orydzuk began raising his voice while talking to her and that’s when his attention turned to the security guard.
“The security guard stood up for me, because Bruce was starting to get aggressive towards me in some of his questions.”
In a news release, Kelowna RCMP say they were called to the vaccine clinic on July 13, the date the video was recorded, for a complaint that protesters were "impeding access to the clinic."
"Officers attended, spoke with staff and dealt with the protesters," says Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy, in the release.
"No arrests were made at that time."
The video quickly circulated online on Thursday, catching the attention of Premier John Horgan.
“This is vile, racist behaviour. If this is how you treat people, you are the problem,” the premier tweeted.
The encounter lasts approximately 90 seconds before the man walks off. Mohini Singh, a Kelowna city councillor, says the man’s racist remarks are not reflective of the city.
“How far is this person, or this group of people, doing to go before we say stop?”
Singh says she’s heard from Kelowna residents who commend the security guard for de-escalating the situation.
“The Indo-Canadian community here is very, very proud of him. Proud of the way he stood his ground, and proud of the way he didn’t lose his cool," Singh says.
Since becoming aware of the video, police have launched an investigation. They say the video shows "a protester yelling what appear to be racially motivated comments and accusations at a staff member who asked him to leave the property."
“We are now investigating this incident through the lens of the willful promotion of hatred under Section 319 of the Criminal Code,” Noseworthy says. “Racism has no place in our community, and I want to reassure the public that this matter is being given the full attention of our General Investigative Support Team in consultation with the Provincial Hate Crimes Unit.”
RCMP say they have identified the man in the video, but they're asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken to them to get in touch by calling (250) 762-3300.
Berry hopes her video continues to be shared and viewed across the country.
“I feel like as Canadians we sometimes like to pretend racism doesn’t exist. We shouldn’t be sweeping these things under the rug.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.