PEIFor the second time in just over a year, the Town of Three Rivers had to limit access to a public meeting after threats of violence. Thursday night’s council meeting was closed following what the eastern P.E.I. town’s mayor called “disturbing comments” posted on social media earlier that day. 2nd time in just over a year council has limited public accessMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Dec 12, 2025 7:00 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Threats of violence prompt Three Rivers to close meeting to the publicFor the second time in just over a year, the eastern P.E.I. community of Three Rivers has had to limit access to a public meeting after threats of violence. Mayor Debbie Johnston and town staff say they received threats on social media. CBC’s Cody MacKay reports.For the second time in just over a year, the Town of Three Rivers had to limit access to a public meeting after threats of violence. Thursday night’s council meeting was closed following what the eastern P.E.I. town’s mayor, Debbie Johnston, called “disturbing comments” posted on social media earlier that day.Johnston said the decision was made after discussions with the RCMP.In a statement emailed to CBC News, P.E.I. RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Gavin Moore confirmed the agency is investigating threats made against council on a social media platform.“The comments were of a concerning nature and were in part in relation to the Town of Three Rivers,” Moore said in the statement. “We maintain an open dialogue with the Town of Three Rivers with the goal of sharing any relevant information they can use in their decision making on holding public meetings.”It is the second time the RCMP has had to investigate threats of violence against the town’s council. Last November, a public meeting was moved online after threats mentioning weapons.Coun. Anne Van Donkersgoed, shown in a photo from November, says there are times she doesn’t feel safe in her community. (Jane Robertson/CBC)While police did not provide details on the full nature of the most recent threats, Coun. Anne Van Donkersgoed told CBC News they are related to land and properties owned by Buddhist groups in the area, which have been the topic of concerns and speculation for years.Van Donkersgoed and other councillors have been criticized by some over how much land the groups own.“With all the misinformation and the name calling in the community and on social media, I’m very cautious about my safety and the safety of my family,” she said in a written statement to CBC News. “Some people feel they can say anything they want no matter whether it’s true or not. In my opinion this creates an environment where things can escalate into somebody being seriously hurt.”Van Donkersgoed added she is disheartened to think there are people on P.E.I. who have “so little regard” for their fellow citizens. ‘Obviously, I do not condone any form of threats of any kind. This is a very challenging time to be a local leader,’ Cory Deagle, P.E.I.’s minister of housing, land, and communities, said in an emailed statement when asked to comment on the situation. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)Cory Deagle, P.E.I.’s minister of housing, land and communities, said in a statement that he does not condone threats of any kind.“This is a very challenging time to be a local leader, and we recognize the pressures that come with these roles,” the statement reads.“All councils make decisions with the best interests of their communities in mind.”WATCH | Three Rivers moves its public meeting online out of fears for councillors’ safety (November 2024):Eastern P.E.I. town moves its public meeting online out of fears for councillors’ safetyThe mayor of Three Rivers says ‘aggressive’ social media posts are causing concern for the town’s council and staff. RCMP say they are investigating reports of posts that mention violence and weapons. CBC’s Wayne Thibodeau reports.Land concernsTensions have been high for years in Three Rivers, which includes the communities of Montague, Georgetown, Cardigan, Brudenell, Lower Montague, Valleyfield and Lorne Valley, as well as a number of rural areas.Many residents have expressed concerns about the amount of land being purchased by Buddhist groups. There have also been unsubstantiated claims that councillors and local MLAs have accepted bribes. The town is also in what some officials called a “standoff” with the provincial government over bylaw amendments that would give council more oversight on development for properties owned by those groups. The town says it has been waiting nearly a year for the minister of housing, land and communities to sign off on the amendments — but that hasn’t happened.Deagle, who has only held that portfolio since October, has previously said he’s heard “significant concerns” about the proposed amendments, and said he won’t sign off on the changes until those concerns are addressed.The holdup led to John Van Dyke’s resignation from council earlier this week. ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from Cody MacKay
Three Rivers council closes another meeting to the public following threats of violence
