Ottawa resident receives sentence for harassing Asian neighbors out of hate

A former resident of Ottawa, who admitted to targeting his Asian neighbors with racially motivated harassment and vandalism, has narrowly avoided imprisonment. A court in Ontario sentenced 37-year-old Mathew Galipeau to an 18-month conditional term on Tuesday, beginning with four months of house arrest, for the hate-driven actions that took place in the Barrhaven area. This sentence marks the conclusion of a widely followed case that highlighted anti-Asian bias and the enforcement of hate crime laws.

The charges were related to events from June 2024, when Galipeau and his ex-partner, Jaime Quigley, were caught on security cameras mocking Asian languages with offensive gibberish and throwing eggs at a South Korean family's home. Galipeau's 18-month sentence is structured as conditional, starting with four months of strict house arrest, followed by two months under curfew, and finishing with 12 months of regular probation.

Quigley, his former wife, pleaded guilty to mischief involving property damage valued under $5000 and received a suspended sentence, alongside 12 months of probation. In court, Quigley expressed deep regret for her actions, stating she felt "horrible" and was "truly sorry" for what had happened.

Justice Hugh Fraser, who delivered Galipeau's sentence, condemned his actions as "reprehensible," emphasizing that there was "no justification" for the behavior. Galipeau did not make a statement during the proceedings, but his lawyer conveyed that he was "genuinely remorseful" and currently attending mandatory counseling to address racial sensitivity. Both Galipeau and Quigley are prohibited from contacting the victims or coming near their property as part of their probation terms.

The court highlighted the severe psychological toll on the victims, a South Korean family, as described in a victim impact statement. The statement detailed the "unrelenting stress" caused by the harassment, which led to anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and significant sleep disturbances.

Author: Connor Blake