Parliament Hill protester 'in shock' after being blasted in face with power washer
Nicholas Ewanchuk, 45, sustained large gash on his lip after clash with employee of federal contractor
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OTTAWA — They’re a common sight in front of the House of Commons.
Scrawled in chalk on the sidewalk along Wellington St. in downtown Ottawa sit silent protests against the federal government, put there by men and women known as the “Wellington Street Regulars.”
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Known for their persistent, colourful and sometimes loud protests against the federal government, the “Regulars” are famously — or to some infamously — known for their signs, chalk art and livestreamed criticism of politicians and staffers entering and leaving Parliament.
Among them is Nicholas Ewanchuk, 45 — originally from The Battlefords, Sask., but who came to Ottawa as part of the 2022 Freedom Convoy — who writes his chalk-rendered protests around the steps leading to West Block, a frequent entry point for politicians, staff and reporters entering the House of Commons.
“I don’t write vulgar words, we put information on the sidewalk for people to do some research,” Ewanchuk told the Toronto Sun on Thursday.
“We’re already into six years of this madness, I guess you can call it my opinion.”
Ewanchuk was a truck driver for 23 years when, in the early day of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was fired after objecting to the non-fire-retardant paper face masks he was forced to wear while loading truckloads of crude oil.
His EI application was rejected because his dismissal was classified as a pandemic-related infraction.
On Tuesday, Ewanchuk was present when Gemma Property Services — an Ottawa-based landscaping contractor hired by the National Capital Commission to maintain Wellington St. — arrived at Wellington and O’Connor St. to clear away his work, along with that of a First Nations artist known locally as “The Chalk Man.”
While Ewanchuk is used to watching his work rinsed away, things took a turn for the worse when an unidentified worker took exception to being recorded and blasted Ewanchuk in the face with with a truck-mounted power washer.
The powerful stream of pressurized water slammed Ewanchuk’s cellphone into his face, opening a large gash on his top lip and sending his phone flying.
“That’s when I saw blood dripping,” Ewanchuk said.“I was in shock — this guy was supposed to be a professional.”
Power washers, particularly industrial grade models, are capable of inflicting severe and life-altering injuries — particularly when directed at the face.
Numerous inquiries to Gemma Property Services by the Toronto Sun went unacknowledged.
National Capital Commission spokesperson Valérie Dufour told the Toronto Sun Gemma Property Services informed them of the altercation shortly after it happened.
“Gemma is collaborating with the authorities investigating the incident,” she said.
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The incident was witnessed by members of the Parliamentary Protective Services, who separated the men and dispatched paramedics and Ottawa Police to the scene.
A police complaint was filed and as of Thursday there was no word of charges — but Ewanchuk said the incident won’t deter him from his silent protest.
“My children, their children, it’s for future generations,” he said when asked why he persists.
“It’s not looking too good here in Canada for the past few years, that’s why we’re determined to keep doing what we do.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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