VANCOUVER — Police in West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»were called to meet a BC Ferries vessel as it docked in Horseshoe Bay on Saturday after people opposed to public health restrictions aimed at fighting the spread of COVID-19 caused disturbances on board.
BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall says the group of so-called anti-maskers departed from Nanaimo at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and it's believed they were heading to an event in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»dubbed the "freedom rally."
She says members of the group were verbally abusing mask-wearing passengers, so police were called to meet the vessel when it arrived.
Marshall says anyone identified as being part of the group was banned from making a trip with BC Ferries for at least the rest of the day, so they would have to find a different way home.
She adds the remaining sailings between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay have been delayed about 45 minutes because of the incident.
Videos posted to Twitter show a crowd bearing anti-mask and anti-vaccine messages rallying outside the art gallery in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and the Facebook page for the event indicates a second rally is planned for Sunday.
Const. Jason Doucette says the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department estimates the crowd reached about 1,000 people at its peak on Saturday.
Police in West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»could not immediately be reached for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2020.
Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
