Social media post praising 'heroes of the occupation' draws ire, restaurateur says

Some downtown Ottawa businesses say an end tothe weeks-long demonstrationhas not meant a return to normal, but instead a continuation of harassment and security concerns, including one restaurant facingbacklashover a recent social media post praising people who defied protesters.

On Monday, North &Navytweetedout anoffer of free meals to a number ofresidents who have spoken out against the weeks-long protest.

Invitees includedZexi Li, who launched a class-action lawsuit andsought an injunction seeking to silence protesters' truck horns, and three women who made headlines afterblocking the pathof a big rigin the early days of the demonstrations.

"We're just looking for ways to put people in a good mood after a horrible couple of weeks," said co-ownerAdamVettorel, adding that he considers his invited guests "heroes of theoccupation."

Most of the responses to the tweet were quite positive, except for"a few online trolls,"hetold CBC.

"They've been leaving us bad reviews andemailing us some pretty nasty things ... Alot of them aren't even from the Ottawa area."

Mall evacuation 'scary,' worker says

Vettorel's experience this weekunderscores some of the lingering tensions in downtown Ottawa in the wake of the protests.

On Tuesday just hours after the downtown Rideau Centre reopened for the first time the mall was evacuated and closed forapproximately three hours.

A 50-year-old man allegedly stole from a mall business and then pulled out a firearm when confronted by security, according to an Ottawa police news release. He was arrested after fleeing on foot and faces several firearms charges.

Officers recovered an imitation firearm, according to sources

Sheena McLaughlin, who works at the mall, called the evacuation scary.

"Securityweredefinitely being a little bit panicked," she said, adding she saw armed officers run by at one point.

But she said she also wasn't surprised something occurred given the situation in the city's downtown over the last several weeks and the currentpolice blockades.

"It doesn't feel as safe as I think we wanted it to be at the moment,"she said.

She said staff are simply trying to get back to work after being off for so long without pay.

WATCH | What drove protesters to Ottawa and what may come next:

The divisions and distrust the Ottawa protests exposed

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The blockades may be gone but the protesters' anger isn't. Ioanna Roumeliotis explores what drove people to the nation's capital and what some hope comes next.

Theft the 'icing on the top of the cake'

Starling Ottawa, a new restaurant in the ByWard Market, had been eyeing a grand opening last Fridayafter protest-related delays.

But that day came and went without opening their doors because of inaccessible streets and themajor police pushagainst demonstrators, saidRyan Quennell,the restaurant's general manager.

It also faced another set back after two people broke in on Saturday, taking much of the restaurant'shigh-end alcohol inventory.

The theft, captured on the business's security cameras, is under investigation byOttawa Police Service's break and enter unit.

"This trucker convoy that was down on Wellington and in the downtown core was 10 times worse than the pandemic ever was," he said.

Staff were already feeling uneasy before the break-in, which was "the icing on the cake," Quennell added.

The same day the restaurant was broken into, the federal government announced it would funnel$20 million to Ottawa businesses affected by the protests.

Mayor Jim Watson then signalled that city council will discuss a host of additional financial relief measuresintended to help businesses recover at Wednesday's city council meeting.