Ottawa police investigate after a hate symbol is found on Kitchissippi candidate's sign
Ottawa Police say they received a report on October 5 about hate symbols drawn on election signs belonging to Kitchissippi council candidate Subhir Uppal. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit is investigating.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Ottawa Police are investigating after a hate symbol was found on an election sign belonging to Kitchissippi ward council candidate Subhir Uppal, CTV News reported on October 7, 2026.
Ottawa Police confirmed to CTV News that they received a report on October 5 about hate symbols drawn on an election sign near Churchill Avenue North and Scott Street, and another sign that had been kicked over. The Ottawa Police Service's Hate and Bias Crime Unit is now handling the investigation.
What Uppal said
Subhir Uppal, who is running for Ward 15 councillor, told CTV News the incident was "devastating" for his family. He said his wife was concerned the situation could escalate and that the couple had to explain what happened to their five-year-old son. His parents, who immigrated to Canada around 50 years ago, were also deeply upset, he said.
Uppal said the incident would not stop his campaign. "I think there's a line that's crossed, and I think it was crossed with what happened with those signs," Uppal told CTV News.
Mayor Sutcliffe's response
Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CTV News he was shocked to learn of the incident. He said it was troubling that a candidate and his family, including a child, had to face something so threatening and disturbing. He said he hoped police would follow up with all available resources.
A separate incident in Gloucester-Southgate
CTV News also reported that the campaign manager for Ahmed Rashid, a candidate for Ward 10 Gloucester-Southgate councillor, said Rashid received an email attacking him based on his race and religion. Rashid reported the incident to Ottawa Police and to the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The NCCM confirmed to CTV News it received an incident report.
About the Kitchissippi race
Four candidates are running for the Ward 15 Kitchissippi seat: Uppal, Joanne Chianello, Brian Innes, and Xavier Commerford. The ward has no incumbent on the ballot because its sitting councillor, Jeff Leiper, is running for mayor.
The City of Ottawa says interfering with or damaging an election sign is an offence under the Criminal Code and tells anyone who sees sign tampering to contact police. Voting day is October 26.
Questions this story answers
What happened to Subhir Uppal's campaign signs?
CTV News reported that a hate symbol was found on an election sign belonging to Subhir Uppal, a candidate for city councillor in Kitchissippi ward (Ward 15) in the October 26 Ottawa election. Uppal told CTV News that police contacted him after discovering the defaced sign and told him an investigation had been launched. Ottawa Police confirmed to CTV News that they received a report on October 5 about symbols drawn on an election sign, as well as another sign that had been kicked over. The incident was at the intersection of Churchill Avenue North and Scott Street. You can read more about Uppal at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/subhir-uppal
Is Ottawa Police investigating the Kitchissippi sign vandalism?
Yes. CTV News reported that the Ottawa Police Service's Hate and Bias Crime Unit is investigating. This is the unit that handles incidents believed to be motivated by hate or bias. The City of Ottawa confirmed to CTV News that interfering with or damaging an election sign is an offence under the Criminal Code.
What did Subhir Uppal say about the incident?
Uppal told CTV News the incident was "devastating" for his family. He said his wife was concerned about the situation escalating and that the couple had to explain what happened to their five-year- old son. He also said his parents, who immigrated to Canada around 50 years ago, were deeply upset. Uppal said the incident would not stop him from continuing his campaign through election day on October 26. These are Uppal's own words as reported by CTV News.
What did Mayor Mark Sutcliffe say about the incident?
CTV News reported that Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was shocked to learn of the incident. "The fact that someone is willing to put their name forward is to be applauded, and you know, the idea that Subhir and his family, including his child, have to go through something so threatening and so disturbing is troubling to me," Sutcliffe said, as reported by CTV News. Sutcliffe said he hopes police will follow up with all available resources.
Were other candidates targeted by hate incidents?
CTV News reported that the campaign manager for Ahmed Rashid, a candidate running in Gloucester-Southgate ward (Ward 10), said Rashid received an email "attacking him based on his race and religion." Rashid reported the incident to police and to the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The NCCM confirmed to CTV News it received an incident report. CTV News said it had reached out to Ottawa Police for more details on this report. Read more about Rashid at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/ahmed-rashid
Who else is running for Kitchissippi ward councillor?
Four candidates are running for the Kitchissippi ward (Ward 15) seat on October 26, 2026. According to CTV News, they are: Subhir Uppal, Joanne Chianello, Brian Innes, and Xavier Commerford. The ward does not have an incumbent in this race because its sitting councillor, Jeff Leiper, is running for mayor. You can see the full list at the ward's page on voche.me: /on/ottawa-2026/races/councillor/ward-15-kitchissippi
How do I report election sign vandalism in Ottawa?
CTV News reported that the City of Ottawa says interfering with or damaging an election sign is an offence under the Criminal Code, and that the City directs people who see sign tampering to contact police.
When is voting day in Ottawa?
Voting day in the Ottawa municipal election is October 26, 2026. An advance voting day is October 16, with voting places open from 10 am to 8 pm. Special advance voting days were held October 1 to 4. Voters choose the mayor, one city councillor per ward, and school board trustees.
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