Police investigating after protesters harass families as children get their vaccines in North Bay
Abby Blaszczyk took her seven-year-old son to be vaccinated Sunday in North Bay, and the experience has left her and her young child upset, after they were harassed by anti-vaccination protestors.
“As we pulled in they just verbally assaulted us. I had a seven- and four-year-old in the car,” Blaszczyk said.
“They were swearing and just screaming at us. There (were) men with megaphones, and as I came out one man with a megaphone screamed that I had just injected my son with poison.”
In a news release Tuesday, the North Bay Police Service said they are investigating what went on at the clinic and said charges could be laid.
"Where criminal acts are found to have occurred, police will take appropriate enforcement action, including laying charges," police said.
"The North Bay Police Service respects the rights of individuals to peacefully protest, but will not tolerate any interference with people’s right to safety when accessing health care and attending a vaccination clinic."
Police said they will be providing an increased police presence at future clinics and, "if criminal behaviour takes place, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action."
Blaszczyk said the experience inside the vaccine centre at One Kids Place went smoothly and she said the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit ran an organized vaccination clinic.
Outside, it was a different story.
“They had signs that were just completely untrue, they said save the children and stuff like that,” she said. “They were screaming at every family that was walking through.”
The unpleasant scene continued as she and her child tried to go home.
“As we left through the actual parking lot and had to pass the group, they screamed and told my son that I was a murderer, they told me I was committing genocide, and then we drove away,” added Blaszczyk.
CTV News reached out to the health unit and the North Bay Police Service, but no one was made available.
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald said he would like to see legal action taken.
“I’ve written the chief and the chair of the police services board, and I did convey the concerns I was hearing from our citizens to them, said McDonald.
“I’m going to talk to our legal and our security to see what we can do to assist.”
“But, I think it’s really important, that these individuals if they are choosing to be vaccinated they shouldn’t be blocked and they shouldn’t be intimidated at all,” he added.
While the experience for the Blaszczyks was one they don’t want to re-live, she said she believes in the vaccine and will be taking her four-year-old daughter to get vaccinated in the New Year.
“I believe in the science of vaccines, and I was very proud to have him vaccinated,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.