Self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” and compound leader Romana Didulo has been granted bail for a second time after being arrested twice last week, first during an RCMP raid and again a day later for allegedly breaching the conditions of her release.
RCMP say the charges being addressed at trial stem from an incident in July when four individuals including one police officer were allegedly threatened by Didulo’s group in Richmound, which is located about 440 kilometres west of Regina.
Didulo has said she will represent herself in the jury trial, with her next court appearance set for Sept. 17. Didulo maintains her innocence and says that only “natural law” applies to her, not Canadian law.
The most recent arrests came after RCMP officers raided a decommissioned Richmound, Sask., school occupied by Didulo and her followers on Sept. 3, leading to the arrests of Didulo, property owner Ricky Manz, and 14 others. Although all were released later that day, Didulo and Manz were rearrested on Sept. 4 and charged with allegedly intimidating a justice system participant as well as violating conditions that barred them from contacting one another.
Among the conditions of her bail, Didulo, 50, is not permitted to return to Richmound, must remain in Regina, cannot contact Manz, and may not possess any weapons.
Police say the Sept. 3 raid resulted in the seizure of 13 imitation semi-automatic handguns and ammunition, with charges expected for at least three more people as the investigation proceeds.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) also issued an eviction order Sept. 4 for those residing in the school building, deeming it unfit for human habitation. The school building is in violation of Section 22 of the Public Health Act because it does not have a connection to the local sewer system, although trailers on the property can be used, according to SHA. The health authority said those breaching the order may face fines of up to $75,000.
Didulo’s group first moved into the abandoned school owned by Manz in the tiny Saskatchewan town of Richmound in late 2023.
Didulo calls herself the “Queen of the Kingdom of Canada” and the head of state and government, and often makes comments that the authorities are only “masquerading as official government of Canada” and have no jurisdiction over citizens.
