TORONTO, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that an appeal has been filed in the Ontario Court of Appeal on behalf of retired Canadian Forces veteran Master Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Jeffrey Evely, who was arrested while attempting to stand guard at the National War Memorial during the peaceful 2022 Freedom Convoy protest.
At the beginning of 2022, Mr. Evely joined the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa to peacefully protest lockdowns and vaccine mandates. When allegations arose that the War Memorial had been desecrated, he organized fellow veterans to protect the site—often volunteering for the least popular pre-dawn shift himself.
On February 19, 2022, Mr. Evely was arrested and charged with mischief and obstruction while attempting to reach the memorial through an area that police had sealed off to the public. He was later convicted of those charges in September 2024.
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre have filed a new appeal that argues police had no common-law authority to close large sections of Ottawa or to restrict public movement through checkpoints.
Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury said, “By locking down large sections of downtown Ottawa, the police were effectively preventing all civilians from accessing public areas and greatly exceeded their powers under the common law.”
“This case raises issues that have implications for protests across the province and the country. We are hopeful that the Ontario Court of Appeal will agree and grant leave to appeal,” he added.
