Anti-Pride protester known as ‘helmet guy’ arrested

Christopher Vanderweide, the helmet-wielding, anti-Pride protester from Kitchener, has been arrested after alleged threats made against Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) executives in an online chat.

York Regional Police say investigators arrested Vanderweide, 29, on Sunday and charged him with uttering threats and breaching probation. Police say Vanderweide was released on bail, and is scheduled to appear in a Newmarket court on Nov. 23.

In a private Facebook chat group, Vanderweide allegedly called CAHN chair Bernie Farber and executive director Evan Balgord evil pieces of trash" and said they should be shot."

On Sept. 10, Vanderweide pleaded guilty in a Hamilton court to one count of assault with a weapon for a violent altercation at a Pride celebration in Hamilton's Gage Park in June 2019.

Vanderweide received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation from a judge, meaning Vanderweide would not serve jail time, but must abide by certain conditions during the year-long probation. This included attending anger-management counselling, maintaining distance from victims and not visiting Gage Park.

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Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com