Peterborough police have charged the owners of Peterburgers under the city’s noise by-law following the restaurant’s grand reopening celebration on Saturday (April 9).
The restaurant, located at 25 George Street North, had recently reopened after having been closed since December by order of Peterborough Public Health for defying COVID-19 public health measures.
On Saturday afternoon, a convoy of vehicles decorated with Canadian flags and anti-Trudeau messages drove past Peterburgers on George Street while honking horns, with many of the vehicles ending up in the parking lot at Del Crary Park just up the street from the restaurant.
A crowd also gathered outside the restaurant to support the owners, who are known for opposing COVID-19 public health measures as well as vaccines.
A number of people spoke to the crowd through a sound system, and vehicles honked as they drove past the restaurant. At several times, members of the crowd spilled out into the surrounding streets.
Several people on social media complained about the event while it was happening as well as the lack of a police presence, tagging local politicians as well as the police.
Freedom = pushing people onto the street.
(No cameramen were harmed in the making of this video)#cdnpoli #antivaxxers #Peterborough pic.twitter.com/L36eTChjyY
— Caryma Sa'd – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) April 9, 2022
Late on Saturday afternoon, police issued a media release that they had “several officers in attendance” and that “charges are forthcoming.”
Also late on Saturday afternoon, Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien posted on Twitter that, although she nor members of city council can direct the police, she was planning to bring the issue to general committee at Monday’s meeting and to the Police Services Board at Tuesday’s meeting.
However, as a member of the Police Services Board, I will bring this up at our meeting Tuesday. And I have followed up with city staff about our options on the bylaw front, which I will bring up at GC this Monday. Both meetings are public.
— Diane Therrien (@DianeNTherrien) April 9, 2022
At the end of the general committee meeting on Monday night, Therrien made a statement about the situation on the weekend.
“Myself and members of council are receiving complaints and concerns from residents about periodic disruptions on city streets and related noise that’s negatively impacting businesses, residents, and everyone who uses city streets,” Therrien said.
“So I’m just referring these complaints and concerns to (city) staff as an enforcement complaint and, further, I would encourage staff to consider whether the city’s regulatory framework adequately balances the rights of those who wish to assemble and express themselves, with the rights of the residents, business owners, and the rest of the users of city streets. And I’ll just leave it at that for now, thank you.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Peterborough police issued a media release stating they had charged Peterburgers on Monday “for permitting noise likely to disturb under section 90-273 of the City of Peterborough Noise By-Law,” and that a court date of June 27 has been set.
VIDEO: Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien at General Committee (April 11, 2022)
The fine under the noise by-law is $125 for a first offence. For subsequent offences, a summons may be issued, compelling the person to attend court, where the fines could reach a maximum of $2,000.
