Statement by Mayor David Evans and Chief Administrative Officer Robert Lamb

The Township of Tiny believes in the right of all Canadians to freedom of peaceful assembly.

On October 17, 2025, the Township of Tiny held a groundbreaking event for the new municipal administrative centre to mark a major milestone of the project and the start of the construction phase. Due to safety concerns with the project being an active construction site, the event was limited in capacity to Council and support staff, but open to credentialed members of the press. The event was followed by an official press release published by the Township. 

A group of protesters opposed to the project had been organized and attended at the site entrance on October 17th to express their opposition. As the Township event concluded and participants were leaving the site some of the protestors aggressively impeded vehicles as they attempted to leave creating unsafe conditions for everyone. The actions of some of the protestors at this event do not align with peaceful assembly. 

The protest organizers failed to always maintain control of their event, putting at risk both Township and personal property, as well as the safety of staff, Council, and bystanders. The Township of Tiny does not condone violence, hate speech, intimidation or bullying of any kind and condemns the actions of the protest organizers and the participants that took part in this inappropriate behaviour for creating and continuing to create an unsafe environment and division in our community both in-person and online.

The Township of Tiny will continue to take any actions necessary to ensure the safety of everyone attending municipal events. In the interest of full public transparency and to ensure compliance with the law and lawful rights of peaceful assembly including the right to protest, the Township has met with the OPP to review the incident that occurred on October 17. The Township requested an investigation be opened into the incident, and the inability of the protest organizers to maintain control of their event and the inappropriate actions of some of the participants involved. 

The Township of Tiny will also be taking all steps necessary to protect our staff to ensure a safe working environment while continuing to serve our residents. In the last 48 hours the Township has had to reach out and get assistance from the OPP to deal with multiple incidents including one on Wednesday, October 22nd that led to the building being put into temporary lockdown. As stated, the Township does not condone violence, hate speech, intimidation, swearing or bullying of any kind and will deny services to anyone that uses that behaviour towards staff.