Police in several Canadian cities are increasing their presence in preparation for protests and rallies on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack in Israel.
The attack saw more than 1,200 Israelis killed and about 240 hostages seized, triggering an Israeli counter-offensive in Gaza that the regional health ministry says has left more than 41,000 dead.
In the year since, thousands of protests have taken place in Canada, with pro-Israeli demonstrators demanding Hamas release the hostages, while pro-Palestinian voices have demanded a ceasefire between the two sides.
Here's a look at what major cities across Canada expected ahead of Monday鈥檚 demonstrations.
Ottawa
In the nation鈥檚 capital, the Ottawa Police Service said it鈥檚 increasing its presence and patrols around Jewish and Islamic places of worship, as well as community centres.
鈥淲e recognize that next week, October 7th, marks the beginning of hostilities. We are closely monitoring the situation and assessing any potential impacts on our local community,鈥� Ottawa Police said in a .
, Ottawa鈥檚 Jewish community gathered at Parliament Hill to remember the victims and call for the release of the hostages. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets to protest Israel鈥檚 military offensive in the Middle East.
Montreal
Montreal Deputy Chief Vincent Richer that he鈥檚 been in contact with the city鈥檚 Jewish and Arab-Muslim communities, and that Montreal鈥檚 police force will focus much of its attention on places of worship.
McGill University between Saturday and Monday in anticipation of tensions boiling over. Students at McGill and other post-secondary institutions across North America have set up encampments, demanding their schools cut ties with Israel.
On Monday, Jewish groups will hold a vigil outside the campus between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Around the same time, pro-Palestinian groups will march from Concordia University to McGill鈥檚 Roddick Gates.
"I think our demand to the university is very clear," Hanan Zakari, a member of Students for Palestine鈥檚 Honour and Resistance McGill, told 麻豆传媒 Montreal. 鈥淏y closing the campus, McGill is insisting on deploying its private mercenaries like they have done to students throughout the summer, and that the university itself is creating a campus of fear.鈥�
More than 340 protests related to the Israel-Hamas war have taken place in Montreal since last October, with police making more than 100 arrests, and dozens being charged with hate crimes.
鈥淲e want to make sure that people feel safe in Montreal," Richer said.
Toronto and rest of GTA
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw told reporters that the department will ramp up its presence on Monday, deploying three mobile command units to three predominantly Jewish neighbourhoods along Bathurst Street, with a fourth deployed to various Toronto mosques.
鈥淎s tensions rise around the world and we approach the one-year anniversary of Oct. 7, we know world events always have an impact here at home. This includes the potential for increased protest activity and acts of violence,鈥� Demkiw said.
鈥淭he Toronto Police Service will be a visible and reassuring presence for as long as is necessary.鈥�
Since the beginning of 2024, Demkiw says 350 hate-motivated offences have been reported to Toronto police, marking a 40 per cent spike since the same time last year.
North of Toronto, are ramping up their visibility throughout the region on Monday. One mobile unit will travel throughout York Region until Oct. 8, and a stationary unit will be set up in Thornhill.
Police said they 鈥渨ill not tolerate any form of hate crime or the threat of violence against anyone: all hate/bias incidents will be investigated thoroughly.鈥�
Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca says the increased presence will go a long way to helping 鈥渆ase some of the anxiety and the angst鈥� the Jewish community has felt in the last 12 months.
Calgary
Calgary police say there鈥檚 been no specific threats identified against either the city鈥檚 Jewish or Muslim communities, but they increased patrols and their presence over the weekend and will continue on Monday.
鈥淎s we near the one-year mark since the events of Oct. 7, tensions in the Middle East remain high, and the effects are still being felt here in Calgary,鈥� Calgary police . 鈥淲e are collaborating with our partners to monitor the situation at local, national and international levels, and we continue to work with the community to ensure everyone鈥檚 safety.鈥�
Members of Calgary鈥檚 Jewish community rallied at City Hall to honour those who perished in the Oct. 7 attacks, waving Israeli flags and reciting the Kaddish prayer, a Jewish prayer said in memory of the dead.
On the other side of the street, pro-Palestinian demonstrators called for a ceasefire.
Vancouver
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said it deployed extra resources in anticipation of multiple protests planned for Oct. 7.
鈥淵ou will see a significant and visible police presence throughout our city,鈥� . 鈥淲e鈥檒l also be working behind the scenes with officers that you will not see to assess and reassess potential risks.鈥�
Palmer went on to say there鈥檚 been 鈥渧iolence, hostility and assaults on police officers and members of the public鈥� at protests in Vancouver since the Oct. 7 attacks. He said the VPD has set up additional cameras at Jewish places of worship and that a mobile command centre has been deployed at Vancouver鈥檚 Jewish Community Centre.
