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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.