How the end of the downtown occupation unfolded in Ottawa

It was a Family Day weekend the likes of whichOttawa has never seen, as three weeks of enduring protests were brought to a swift end. Starting last Friday, unprecedented police action pushed demonstrators off of Wellington Street and moved trucks occupying thedowntown coresince Jan. 29.

Here's how it all unfolded.

Thursday

Heading into the long weekend, police warn protesters to move out of the area and the Children's Aid Society calls on parents to take their kids out of the area due to "potential police action."

Interim Ottawa police Chief Steve Bellwarns a major increase of police officers will be seen throughout the core.

A secure perimeter is set up and, according to police, there are 100 checkpoints. All highway off-ramps to downtown streets are closed, but some on-ramps remain open so people can leave town.

Friday

Five days after thefederal government invokes the EmergenciesAct, police forces from across the country start moving in to disperse protesters.

On Friday morning, the first area to see police action is around Nicholas Streetand the Mackenzie King Bridge. Police warn people to leave the area. As officers move in, several arrests are made and a truck's windows are smashed.

A timelapse of police efforts to clear convoy protesters on Friday

3 years ago

Duration 2:35

This timelapse video shows groups of police officers moving toward protesters from Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive between late morning and about 3 p.m. as the operation to clear the Ottawa convoy protest began Friday.

Shortly after 11 a.m., police line up on Rideau Street near Joey's restaurant and begin to move westward. At the same time, rows and rows of officers form on Colonel By Drive near the Westin Hotel. The police contingent includespublic order units and members from forces across the country. Bringing up the rear are eight officers on horseback and atactical vehicle.

Protesters move to Colonel By to stand nose-to-nose withpolice, yelling "Hold the line." Every 10 minutes or so, police move northward a few steps and come intophysical contact with protesters. Some protesters are arrested.

People waveflags and shoutat the policeas theyare pushed onto Rideau Street.

By1:30 p.m., police moveall protesters out of the ByWard Market, off Sussex Drive and off Colonel By Drive. Police, including the Sret du Quebec, eventuallyforma line from the front door of the Chteau Laurierhotel, across Rideau Street, to the Senate building.

New protesters arriveand some children are in the crowd. Some parents have brought their kids to the occupation to "witness history." Police earlier estimatedabout 25 per cent of the trucks have children.

Throughout the afternoon, witnesses say the atmosphere is tense, demonstrators are loud and animated. A wall of officers slowly moves in, pushing the crowd. Physical contact with officers leads to some arrests.

Late in the afternoon, mounted police on Rideau Street near the Chteau Laurier attempt to create space between protesters and officers, according to police.

Mounted officers move through crowd of protesters as police operation gains ground

3 years ago

Duration 1:28

As police continue to dismantle the convoy protest in Ottawa, mounted officers are seen riding through the crowd to push protesters backwards and away from a line of police.

In the pushing and shoving, people are knocked down by horses, including a woman with a walker, whois reportedlyinjured. This incident is now being investigated by the police oversight body called the Special Investigations Unit.

Social media and U.S. media outlets spreadrumours the woman was trampled and killed. This is later confirmed to be untrue.

By Friday night, several trucks haveleft the core, but the "party" atmosphere continuesin front of the Chteau Laurierand along Wellington Street.

By end of day, police say they'vearrested 100 people.including threeof the protest leaders:Chris Barber, Tamara Lich and Pat King. Barber is released on bail andordered to leave the city within 24 hours.

Saturday

On Saturday morning shortly after 9 a.m, police wearing helmets and armed with batons pour out of the Chteau Laurier, moving quickly along Wellington Street,pressing protesters west past Elgin Street. Police clearout protestersgathered around the National War Memorial.

At Metcalfe Street, right in front of the gates of Parliament Hill, there's a melee as police say protesters throw a gas canister.

Police announce another protest organizer, Pat King, faces fourcharges. Protest co-organizerTamara Lich has a court appearance, but remains in custody.

Police use "a device" to create a loudbang during their advance andreport one protester had also "launched a gas canister" at officers.

Ottawa police use chemical irritant as they confront protesters

3 years ago

Duration 3:13

Police in downtown Ottawa used chemical irritant Saturday afternoon as they pushed through the main protest encampment.

Officers, including those on horseback, push the protesters from the west end of Wellington Street,making more arrests.

Some of the people arrested are in "body armour" and havesmoke grenades and fireworks in their bags, according to police.

By noon, all protesters have been corralled onto O'Connor Street, near Sparks Street. Police sayprotesters become "assaultive" and officers usepepper spray. People use snow to wipe out their eyes.

Ottawa police also appealto people to stop flooding its 911 line as a means to "express displeasure about the police action."

Late Saturday afternoon, protesters gather on Bank Street between Sparks and Queen streets. A speaker is set up blaring music and people with flags and signs dance on the street.

Once Wellington is cleared of demonstrators, workers move in to put up more temporary fences to keep them out.

A statement from the so-called "Freedom Convoy,"one of the main organizing groups, callsout what it describesas police brutality. Social media posts allegepoliceare usingexcessive force during arrests.

On Saturday evening, a police tweet says protesters assaulted officers with weapons"warranting the deployment of mid range impact weapons." This leads to the launch of a second investigation by the SIU.

Sunday

On Sunday, Ottawa's mayor says vehicles seized during the crackdown should be sold to cover costs incurred by the city.

Some children remain front and centre in the crowds over the weekend.

By Sunday afternoon, police say they have made 191 arrests, and laid 389 charges against 103 people. Most have been released on bail conditions that include being prohibited from going into the protest area. Police have also towed 79 vehicles including heavy trucks, pickup trucks and cars.

The interim police chief says the investigationwill "go on for months to come."

Residents enjoy the quiet as city crews clean up the main protest site. Officers move in on thesupply camp on Coventry Road.

Timelapse: Police clear Ottawa protest supply camp

3 years ago

Duration 4:06

Police arrived at the convoys Coventry Road supply camp on Sunday, clearing the remaining protesters and towing several vehicles.

Monday

It's a bit of a ghost town in Ottawa's downtown coreafter the end of a raucous protest, but police checkpoints remain to stop protesters from returning. However, the downtown LRT stations reopen.

Cleanup efforts continue now that trucks and protesters are gone from the core.

Police send social media messages that only parliamentary employees are permitted north of Sparks Street, between Elgin and Bay streets. Wellington Street remains closed to all traffic.

Some members of the truck convoy are reported to be regrouping outside the city as more than 50 vehicles are seen over the weekend in Vankleek Hill, Ont.

The City of Ottawa warns any communications involving financial compensation, which appear to come from the city, due to the convoy protests are not authentic.

Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau defends his government's use of the Emergencies Act as MPs prepare to vote on the act. The House of Commons approves its use.