Cadillac Fairview responds after video of anti-mask rally in Chinook Centre goes viral

CALGARY (CityNews) – The company that owns Chinook Centre said it is working with Calgary police after an anti-mask rally was held in the mall over the weekend.

In a statement, Cadillac Fairview said “at no time did CF Chinook Centre condone or give permission for this action. As with any protest, these are fluid situations, and we do our best to manage them as safely as possible.”

The statement goes on to say that Calgary police worked with mall management as the protest was going on.and will continue to work with police to”debrief the situation.”

That same rally showed a video of a Calgary police officer shaking hands and embracing one of the speakers which quickly gained attention online.

“It’s hard not to be very frustrated, you see something like that and it’s pretty aggravating,” said Tim Caulfield, research chair in health and law at the University of Alberta.

He says what appears to be an act of solidarity between the officer and the leaders of the event sends the wrong message.

“When you have individuals it’s their job to enforce the regulations and enforce the policies. When those individuals being the ones breaking the rules and seeming to support the anti-mask movement, I think it sends a terribly conflicting message and unfortunately invites the public to be complacent,” he explained.

Following the event, Artur Pawlowski, a prominent leader in the right-leaning freedom rally movement, posted a video at a restaurant thanking the police for their support.

“We just had our rally at Chinook mall. It went amazingly well. The police were very supportive. We’re very grateful to the Calgary police for allowing us, helping us, assisting us to exercise our rights,” Pawlowski said in the video.

In the video taken at the mall, Pawlowski is seen speaking to the crowd, asking for compliance with the officer, and telling people to go home or shop. But Caulfield says despite this context, this officer’s actions were out of line.

“The officer chose to extend his hand, that’s not physical distancing. We’re not shaking hands right now and it appears to have a supportive conversation. So, it’s very frustrating.”

“The Diversity Resources Team were on scene to try and negotiate the protestors leaving the mall peacefully,” reads a statement from the Calgary Police Service.

“In doing so, the officer in the video was successful in this peaceful negotiation. At the end of this negotiation, a handshake was offered and accepted. Another protester was nearby speaking into a bullhorn so the officer leaned in closer to hear what is being said.”

On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, an anti-mask protest took place at Chinook Mall where CPS was present. Our role is to ensure public & officer safety, which is why it is sometimes better to follow through with enforcement action post event if needed. https://t.co/ljzxN8DuXK

— Calgary Police (@CalgaryPolice) February 16, 2021

CPS added shortly after the video was taken, protesters dispersed and the situation resolved without further disruption to the public.

“Our role at demonstrations such as these is to ensure public and officer safety, and for this reason, it is sometimes better to follow through with enforcement action post-event,” said CPS in the statement. “We commit to investigating the full scope of events in the coming days to determine what enforcement action may be taken.”

The rallies have been known to invite alt-right conspiracy theories and hate-speech, Caulfield says. This deteriorates relationships the police are trying to build.

“To have an officer in that context, embrace a leader of an anti-mask community, also not a good look for a member of the Calgary police service right now,” said Caulfield.