Latest news with #IainAspenlieder
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
City of Ottawa lawyer charged with defacing National Holocaust Monument has been fired, mayor says
The words 'FEED ME' are seen painted in red on the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS) The City of Ottawa lawyer charged in connection to vandalism at the National Holocaust Monument earlier this month has been fired, according to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. Red paint was discovered on the monument just west of downtown Ottawa on June 9. A photo sent to CTV News Ottawa showed the words 'Feed Me' painted in large red letters on the monument. The Ottawa Police Service announced Friday a 46-year-old man was charged with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. Police did not release the name of the suspect, but court documents identify him as Iain Aspenlieder. According to the Ontario Salary Disclosure list, Aspenlieder was a 'Legal Counsel' with the City of Ottawa. In a post on social media Saturday evening, Sutcliffe said the suspect was a city employee. 'While it's encouraging to see that the police investigation into the incident at the National Holocaust Monument has progressed, I'm very disturbed to learn that the person charged is a city employee who was on leave,' Sutcliffe said. 'As a community and as an employer, the actions at the Monument do not represent our values. I've asked city officials to take all appropriate action in light of these developments.' The suspect was scheduled to appear in court on Saturday. On Sunday, Sutcliffe said the employee has been terminated. 'The city's legal department has confirmed that the individual charged, who was on leave at the time of the incident, is no longer employed by the City of Ottawa,' Sutcliffe said in a post on X. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Monday, interim City Solicitor Stuart Huxley said the man charged was 'on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City.' 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust Monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community,' Huxley said. 'We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' While it's encouraging to see that the police investigation into the incident at the National Holocaust Monument has progressed, I'm very disturbed to learn that the person charged is a city employee who was on leave. As a community and as an employer, the actions at the Monument… — Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) June 28, 2025 The Ottawa Police Service says anyone with information is asked to contact investigators with the Hate and Bias Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5625. 'The OPS treats incidents of this nature seriously and recognizes their profound impact on the community,' police said in a media release on Friday. 'We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents to report them to police. Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping cycles of hatred.' According to the National Holocaust Monument website, the monument in Ottawa commemorates the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions of other victims of Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The monument was inaugurated by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in September 2017.
National Post
9 hours ago
- National Post
Man accused in Holocaust Memorial vandalism fired by City of Ottawa
The City of Ottawa has confirmed that the man accused of vandalizing the National Holocaust Memorial with red paint earlier this month has been fired. Article content In a statement on Sunday afternoon, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley confirmed that Iain Aspenlieder no longer works for the city and that he was on leave at the time of the incident. Article content 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote in an emailed statement to the Citizen. Article content 'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' Article content Article content The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was sprayed with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also sprayed along the building's facade. Article content He was also suspended administratively by the Law Society of Ontario. An administrative suspension means a lawyer has been suspended for administrative reasons, such as failing to pay fees or filing forms on time. A suspended lawyer cannot practice law or provide legal services, the law society said. Article content
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
City of Ottawa fires lawyer accused of vandalizing Holocaust monument
The City of Ottawa has fired one of its lawyers after he was charged earlier this month with vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument, sources have confirmed to Radio-Canada. On Friday afternoon, Ottawa police announced a 46-year-old man had been charged with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. In a post Saturday on social media, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was "very disturbed" to learn the man arrested was an on-leave city employee. Neither police nor Sutcliffe named the man, but on Sunday Radio-Canada confirmed that he is Iain Aspenlieder, a lawyer who'd worked for the city. In a statement to Radio-Canada, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley wrote that the man charged "was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the city." "The recent act affecting the National Holocaust Monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community," Huxley wrote. "We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act." Huxley's statement also did not identify the employee. The mayor's office did not identify him either but did tell Radio-Canada that he had been fired. Vandalism was a 'vile thing' The National Holocaust Monument was found defaced with red paint on the morning of June 9. The words "feed me" were painted in capital letters, alongside large paint splashes. The slogan appeared to be a reference to Gaza, which the United Nations had described as the "hungriest place on Earth" the preceding Friday. The news that the accused vandal was on the city payroll is alarming, said Richard Marceau, vice-president of external affairs and general counsel for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Marceau told Radio-Canada that he was informed of the employee's identity during a weekend phone call with Sutcliffe. "To learn that it was an employee of the City of Ottawa who was charged with vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument was shocking," he told Radio-Canada. "No one, and especially if you're working for the public, should be doing this type of vile thing." None of the charges against Aspenlieder have been proven in court. WATCH | Gaza population at 'critical risk' of famine, according to the UN Suspended by law society The Ontario Sunshine List describes Aspenlieder's position with the city as "legal counsel." He has appeared on the list, which documents public sector employees with salaries of over $100,000, every year since 2016. According to the Law Society of Ontario website, a man named Iain David Aspenlieder has been "suspended administratively" and is not permitted to practice law. The law society's website does not say when he was suspended. Gilles LeVasseur, a business and law professor at the University of Ottawa, said the city can't control the actions of its employees outside of the workplace, but people expect the institution to take appropriate action. "The city has to showcase that they did their due diligence. They actually did proceed properly as soon as they found out the issues and then they acted upon it," he said. Numerous local and national officials have decried the vandalism as an act of antisemitism. Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi said it was "disgraceful," while Iddo Moed, Israel's ambassador to Canada, called it "pure hate against Jews." Coun. Ariel Troster, who is Jewish, wrote in a social media post that she was "devastated." Lawrence Greenspon, a prominent Ottawa defence lawyer and co-chair of the National Holocaust Monument Committee, told CBC after the vandalism occurred that Hamas, not Israel, was at fault for the crisis in Gaza. A solemn vigil was held at the monument one week after the vandalism. Many in Ottawa's Jewish community attended, as well as Christian groups and a Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg elder.
The Province
21 hours ago
- The Province
Man accused in Holocaust Memorial vandalism fired by City of Ottawa
Officials confirmed that Iain Aspenlieder no longer works for the city. The National Holocaust Monument was vandalized with the words "feed me" in red paint. Photo by JULIE OLIVER / Postmedia The City of Ottawa has confirmed that the man accused of vandalizing the National Holocaust Memorial with red paint earlier this month has been fired. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In a statement on Sunday afternoon, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley confirmed that Iain Aspenlieder no longer works for the city and that he was on leave at the time of the incident. 'The recent act affecting the National Holocaust monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community. We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act,' Huxley wrote in an emailed statement to the Citizen. 'The City can confirm that the individual implicated in this act was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the City. As the matter is the subject of a police investigation and is before the courts, the City will provide no further comment.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Aspenlieder has been charged with mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct in relation to the incident. The monument, located at 1918 Chaudière Crossing, was sprayed with the words 'FEED ME' in large block letters on the side adjacent to Wellington Street on June 9. Red paint was also sprayed along the building's facade. Aspenlieder is scheduled to appear in court on July 2 for a bail hearing decision following an appearance on Saturday. He was also suspended administratively by the Law Society of Ontario. An administrative suspension means a lawyer has been suspended for administrative reasons, such as failing to pay fees or filing forms on time. A suspended lawyer cannot practice law or provide legal services, the law society said. The monument was opened in 2017 and commemorates the extermination of six million Jews who were killed in the Second World War. The Ottawa police hate and bias crime unit has been leading the investigation into the vandalism. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News News
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
City of Ottawa fires lawyer accused of vandalizing Holocaust monument
The City of Ottawa has fired one of its lawyers after he was charged earlier this month with vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument, sources have confirmed to Radio-Canada. On Friday afternoon, Ottawa police announced a 46-year-old man had been charged with mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct. In a post Saturday on social media, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was "very disturbed" to learn the man arrested was an on-leave city employee. Neither police nor Sutcliffe named the man, but on Sunday Radio-Canada confirmed that he is Iain Aspenlieder, a lawyer who'd worked for the city. In a statement to Radio-Canada, interim city solicitor Stuart Huxley wrote that the man charged "was on leave at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the city." "The recent act affecting the National Holocaust Monument was deplorable and is counter to the values we seek to uphold in our community," Huxley wrote. "We extend our deepest sympathies to members of our community impacted by this disgraceful act." Huxley's statement also did not identify the employee. The mayor's office did not identify him either but did tell Radio-Canada that he had been fired. Vandalism was a 'vile thing' The National Holocaust Monument was found defaced with red paint on the morning of June 9. The words "feed me" were painted in capital letters, alongside large paint splashes. The slogan appeared to be a reference to Gaza, which the United Nations had described as the " hungriest place on Earth " the preceding Friday. The news that the accused vandal was on the city payroll is alarming, said Richard Marceau, vice-president of external affairs and general counsel for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Marceau told Radio-Canada that he was informed of the employee's identity during a weekend phone call with Sutcliffe. "To learn that it was an employee of the City of Ottawa who was charged with vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument was shocking," he told Radio-Canada. "No one, and especially if you're working for the public, should be doing this type of vile thing." None of the charges against Aspenlieder have been proven in court. WATCH | Gaza population at 'critical risk' of famine, according to the UN Gaza population at 'critical risk' of famine, UN-backed report warns Duration 3:38 Half a million people in the Gaza Strip face starvation, a global hunger monitor says, with a high risk of a famine occurring by the end of September. Suspended by law society The Ontario Sunshine List describes Aspenlieder's position with the city as "legal counsel." He has appeared on the list, which documents public sector employees with salaries of over $100,000, every year since 2016. According to the Law Society of Ontario website, a man named Iain David Aspenlieder has been "suspended administratively" and is not permitted to practice law. The law society's website does not say when he was suspended. Gilles LeVasseur, a business and law professor at the University of Ottawa, said the city can't control the actions of its employees outside of the workplace, but people expect the institution to take appropriate action. "The city has to showcase that they did their due diligence. They actually did proceed properly as soon as they found out the issues and then they acted upon it," he said. People gather at the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa on June 15 for a vigil held one week after the memorial was vandalized. (Benjamin Andrews/CBC) Numerous local and national officials have decried the vandalism as an act of antisemitism. Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi said it was "disgraceful," while Iddo Moed, Israel's ambassador to Canada, called it "pure hate against Jews." Coun. Ariel Troster, who is Jewish, wrote in a social media post that she was "devastated." Lawrence Greenspon, a prominent Ottawa defence lawyer and co-chair of the National Holocaust Monument Committee, told CBC after the vandalism occurred that Hamas, not Israel, was at fault for the crisis in Gaza. A solemn vigil was held at the monument one week after the vandalism. Many in Ottawa's Jewish community attended, as well as Christian groups and a Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg elder.
