By CBC News Ottawa, February 18, 2020
An Ottawa woman who wore a large papier mâché likeness of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to city hall to protest the ongoing LRT problems claims she was asked by security guards to take it off. Velvet LeClair donned the mask and a cardboard train bearing the slogan "Fix the LRT" to Watson's Family Day skating party on Monday.
'Jazz hands,' small signs still permitted at council Protest signs, outside food banned as city boosts council security LeClair began with a skate on the Sens Rink of Dreams, where she said her costume was well-received. "A lot of people were laughing and taking pictures," she said. LeClair said the trouble began when she entered city hall and approached the real mayor.
She said she introduced herself as Jim Watson and told him to fix the LRT. A photo of the encounter shows Watson smiling as he appears to lift her mask. LeClair claims security staff later approached her to say her mask was a face covering and the cardboard train was considered a "sign," and therefore not allowed inside city hall. "We thought that was just in [council] chambers," LeClair said. "[The security guard] said no, it's all City of Ottawa property." Marnie Wellar, who helped make the costume and accompanied LeClair to city hall, corroborated her friend's story to CBC.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-woman-told-mask-not-allowed-to-be-worn-at-city-hall-1.5467016?ref=mobilerss&cmp=newsletter_CBC%20Ottawa_485_1178