Ingersoll bride ghosted by wedding photographer
A London businessman at the centre of a dispute over the right to occupy a church in Ottawa is now facing questions here at home.
William Komer, a director of the group ‘United People of Canada,’ a group sympathetic to the so-called freedom convoy, has several for-profit ventures in our region.
Now, CTV News has learned that Komer’s wedding photography business is being accused of taking thousands of dollars from customers and leaving them in the dark.
Eight customers have shared their stories with Newstalk 580 CFRA in Ottawa, claiming that Komer and company representatives have been unreachable for weeks as they’ve attempted to get their photos, videos or money back.
“We are lucky to have lots of our friends and family had phones with them, because otherwise we wouldn't really have anything,” said Stephanie Steele of Ingersoll.
She told CTV News London she has now filed a complaint with the OPP.
“We tried for a long time, like I was convinced that we would still get them that we just couldn't get in touch with them. He [the photographer] must have took hundreds because the photographer was everywhere,” said Steele.
In the meantime, Steele wants to get her $1,300 dollar deposit back and is holding onto to the hope that the photos have not been deleted or lost.
“When I saw the reviews on their Facebook page — because I was trying to reach them from every avenue I could think of — I started getting comments from other brides in the same situation. And we started talking and we've been talking for weeks. When I last tried to contact them [the photographer] and my number was blocked and I was kind of gave up hope that we would see anything.
All of the involved couples allege they are out a combined total of $20,000.
In Ottawa this summer, Komer and the ‘United people of Canada’ have been in a highly publicized dispute with the owner of St. Brigid’s church over the groups efforts to purchase and then lease the downtown Ottawa building. An eviction notice has failed to dislodge the group.
Komer’s ventures include ‘Campus Creative’ and ‘Under the Umbrella Studios’ — they share an address at 533 Clarence St. in London.
— With files from 580 CFRA
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.