Richmound mayor speaks ahead of rally to force self-proclaimed 'queen of Canada' and supporters out
At a press conference on Saturday, Village of Richmound Mayor Brad Miller, along with other leaders from southwest Saskatchewan, spoke about the safety concerns regarding the self-proclaimed “queen of Canada” and her followers.
"We're standing together as one, and our focus is to move her out of Richmound," Miller said during his opening remarks.
Romana Didulo and her supporters have been staying on a private property that was formerly a school in Richmound since they were forced out of the town of Kamsack on Sept. 13.
The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League describes Didulo as a “Canadian QAnon figure” who has called for “violent action” against those who help administer COVID-19 vaccines to kids.
Richmound and area residents have said they are uncomfortable with the cult-like group staying in the village of just over 100 people.
Leader Mayor Aaron Wenzel and Fox Valley Mayor Sean Checkley were in attendance at the press conference to show their support.
“It’s been a difficult few weeks and this could have been just as easily Leader or Fox Valley or any community in the area so we wanted to be here,” Wenzel said.
Checkley said the communities work closely together, and said the Village of Fox Valley shares in Richmound’s concerns.
“Fox Valley is the home to the Richmound students … the children shouldn’t have to be worried about those types of things, so the community is one and works together and needs to support each other,” he said.
“It’s not just a Richmound issue.”
Miller said some people in the community have received cease and desist letters by email, and have also seen Didulo's supporters going around with their cameras and taking pictures.
When asked if those letters contained a threat of execution, Miller said "yes."
Miller said he has seen about 15 members in the area and has seen Didulo once before.
"She will not come out and speak to me, so to me, she's not a leader, she's hiding behind closed doors," he said.
The sign to the school was torn down and replaced with one by Didulo's followers.
Miller said it's "terrible" to see a major part of his town taken over.
"It's a new low for myself and for the community and everybody else that's in this area, it hits home," he said. "We just want her out, we want our health and safety back, we want the love of our community to go back where it was."
"It takes time."
Miller said one of his main concerns is the children in the community.
"We're here about our kids," he said. "They're scared when they go to Fox Valley and when they get off the bus, are they safe?"
Miller said the mayors and town council made a decision to shut down the playground for safety.
A rally coordinated by concerned Richmound citizens was scheduled to take place following the press conference. Miller said he expected a few hundred people to take part.
The rally and peaceful protest is expected to last over the weekend and Miller said he hopes the outcome is positive.
"We've just got to keep finding ins and outs and how we can do it legally to move her on," he said.
The village is located north of Maple Creek about 450 kilometres west of Regina near the Alberta Border.
With files from Rory MacLean.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.