Self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada’ to be released on conditions

Romana Didulo is being released from custody.

In front of a packed courtroom in Swift Current, Judge Alan Jacobson imposed a number of conditions on Didulo, which she will be required to abide by during her release.

Read more:

• Richmound mayor claims ‘Queen of Canada’ pumping sewage into public park
• Two people, including self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada,’ facing charges after RCMP raid in Richmound
• ‘Queen of Canada’ demands release in Swift Current court

The self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” must remain at a specified address in Regina at all times, unless she obtains permission from her parole officer. Didulo is also not allowed to come within 50 kilometres of the Town of Richmound under any circumstances.

She is also not allowed to contact or refer online to Ricky Manz or any of the alleged victims in this case.

She is also not allowed to possess any weapons and must attempt to attain employment or education while awaiting trial.

Didulo told the court she was appearing and agreeing to the terms under duress.

Jacobson insisted she instead use the term “reluctantly agree” when referring to the release conditions.

Didulo represented herself at her bail hearing on Monday, where she is facing charges of failure to comply with an undertaking and intimidation of a justice system participant.

She has also chosen to have a trial by judge and jury at the Court of King’s Bench.

Her next court appearance was set for Sept. 17, when a date for the preliminary inquiry is to be set.

Members of Didulo’s “Kingdom of Canada” group filled seats inside the courtroom during the hearing. They refused to rise for Jacobson in court, and one member of the group was ejected from the courtroom for interrupting the proceedings.

Ricky Manz, the owner of the decommissioned school in Richmound School that Didulo and her group had been residing in, had his bail hearing moved to Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Didulo, who styles herself the Queen of Canada, was staying at the former school along with a group of followers until Wednesday, when the RCMP executed a search warrant at the building following a complaint that someone inside was armed with a gun.

During the search, the RCMP said officers seized 13 imitation firearms, ammunition and a large number of electronic devices.

Aside from Didulo and Manz, no other members of the group were charged.

Health authority declares former school unfit for human occupation

Since the police visited the school last week, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said it has been assessing the public health risks at the site, working with both the Mounties and municipal authorities.

The health authority said it has “gathered sufficient evidence regarding health concerns and compliance issues at this premises to determine there is a risk to public health safety.”

After determining that the building, which is considered a multi-person residence, is not connected to the municipal sewer system, the health authority issued an order prohibiting anyone from occupying it.

“The order deems the building, or part of the building, unfit for human occupation,” the health authority explained in a statement. “An eviction order was also issued, directed at anyone who was currently occupying the building to vacate.”

The order follows complaints from Richmound Mayor Brad Miller, who said last month that the group staying at the school was pumping sewage into a local park.

According to the health authority, the order does not include the trailers that were on the site, and will remain in effect until any deficiencies have been corrected. Anyone violating the order faces a fine of up to $75,000, the health authority noted.

Followers attend court to show support

Shawn Mullin is a reporter with Swift Current Online and attended Didulo’s bail hearing.

He said that other members of the so-called “Kingdom of Canada” were also in attendance.

“There was a confrontation between a reporter from Owl News and one of the members of the Kingdom of Canada just outside of the vehicle Didulo got into, but it didn’t seem to connect with her at all,” he said.

As for inside the courtroom, Mullin said that multiple followers came to show their support.

“One of her followers was seated at the front of the courtroom and twice tried to interrupt proceedings to make the point that she had not actually breached conditions when she was first arrested and released, and Judge Jacobson quickly shut that down, and when he refused to stop speaking, he had him removed from the courtroom,” Mullin said.

“They had a number of members of the kingdom of Canada seated in the courtroom who would refuse to rise when Judge Jacobson entered and left the courtroom, but did rise when Romana Didulo entered the courtroom.”

– with files from 980 CJME’s Roman Hayter