Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.
MOOSE JAW — Tannis Brideau wanted customers at the Civic Centre Plaza to accept her pandemic-related views so much that she prevented them from entering businesses, entering or exiting their vehicles and entering the parking lot.
During Brideau’s multi-day trial in June, police officers and staff from M&M Meats and Spiritleaf Cannabis Dispensary spoke about the disruption the community activist caused on Oct. 1, 2023.
Brideau is facing five charges for this and other alleged incidents at Golden West Radio Station and Prairie South School Division from around the same time.
Aggressive and persistent
The supervisor at Spiritleaf recalled that Brideau arrived at 10 a.m. and remained until her arrest around 4 p.m. During those six hours, she stood in front of the business’ doors five times and prevented customers from entering or leaving while motorists honked at her because she wouldn’t let them enter the lot.
The activist later came inside in a “very aggressive and persistent” manner, loudly talking about COVID-19, the National Citizens Inquiry investigation into the pandemic and speech-related rights and freedoms, even though the business prohibited such talk. The staff then made her leave.
“I called my manager (because) I was intimidated and not sure what to do. She said to call the police … ,” the supervisor said. “I dreaded going to work for two days.”
The supervisor noted that Brideau had come inside on Sept. 30 but was told to leave because the manager had banned her several days before.
“My banning is the reason why I protested at the parking lot,” Brideau interjected, noting she didn’t recall being aggressive and didn’t believe the supervisor's testimony since there was no video proof. “I have been a customer there for years and I have the freedom to speak.”
Police interactions
Constables Jordan Lonsberry, Payton Denet and Aaron Woods testified about their interactions with Brideau on Oct. 1, saying when they arrived, she was holding signs with political messages and startling customers with her yelling — which they could hear through their closed windows.
“I’m never around Tannis without other police officers with me (because of past incidents),” Lonsberry said.
Denet said that he placed Brideau in his cruiser after arresting her and, with another officer following, he took her home. He then released her and put her on an undertaking not to return to the plaza, but she refused to comply.
Woods said he visited the Civic Centre Plaza twice on Sept. 30 and told Brideau to demonstrate in the parking lot because she was disrupting businesses. He also told her to quiet down and be peaceful, but “she was argumentative and belligerent and would not listen.”
“I couldn’t get a word in,” he remarked.
Woods returned in the morning on Oct. 1 and had the same conversation with Brideau, and then returned around 3:30 p.m. with his colleagues. After warning her three times about her conduct, they arrested the activist.
During cross-examination, Woods said that during that incident, he recalled Brideau calling him “the devil.”
“That’s a lie!” she shrieked in response, prompting the judge to call a short break so she could cool down.
‘Pestering’ customers
Meanwhile, Lonsberry said that after Brideau’s arrest, he visited M&M Meats and spoke with employee Jasmine Bouvier, who showed him a video she’d recorded of Brideau standing near a poster-covered red PT Cruiser. The officer also spoke with a Spiritleaf employee.
Bouvier testified that staff called police twice on Sept. 30 because Brideau kept “pestering” customers in the parking lot, preventing some from entering or leaving their vehicles.
“She called me stupid for calling the cops when I went outside (to vape) … . She was pretty loud,” Bouvier said. “It didn’t really bother me. It felt like a temper tantrum.”
Brideau entered the meat shop on Oct. 1 and talked about the pandemic and vaccines before she was told to leave. She did and continued to pester customers, although she didn’t stand on the sidewalk.
During cross-examination, Bouvier said that while M&M Meats didn’t have a no-politics policy, she still allowed Brideau inside to discuss how she felt. Meanwhile, the employee eventually called the police because the activist kept pestering customers.
In response, Brideau said emotionally that she felt responsible for telling people about the pandemic’s harms, while she didn’t think she had been loud enough because people weren’t listening to her and wouldn’t have a discussion.
“I really just wanted people to know that free speech is something that really, really matters to me and our forefathers have fought and died for our freedoms,” she continued emotionally. “Today, since COVID, so much has changed … .”
Bouvier replied that she was for freedom of speech and against the vaccine, just like Brideau was, but she thought there were more constructive methods the activist could have used to approach people.
“There are many other ways to go about things and protest and make your work be known,” she added.
Show me the video!
At one point, Brideau asked Judge Brian Hendrickson to force Crown prosecutor Tony Gerein to hand over video from the police cruiser of her arrest.
“We should be open and transparent about this. I want you to see my emotional state (from that time),” Brideau said.
The judge asked her what power or authority he had under the charter or Criminal Code to compel Gerein to do that, to which she replied that he had the power on “the basis of common sense.”
The Crown then said the car video — which Brideau refused to watch because she declined to accept the disclosure package — was irrelevant and had no effect on the matter.
The trial continues in August.
