A volunteer confronted Justin Trudeau for visiting a flood zone near Ottawa on Saturday, accusing the prime minister of holding up the line while people were filling sandbags as the region grapples with rising floodwaters. Trudeau was in the Ottawa-Gatineau area to be briefed by emergency management officials and help with sandbagging efforts after heavy rain caused water to rise to dangerous levels. Trudeau had worked with his son to fill sandbags and then took photos with some troops in Constance Bay, Ont., on the Ottawa River. Then a man who identified himself as a volunteer voiced his frustrations with Trudeau, dismissing his presence as a "photo-op" and blaming the prime minister's security for long waits for people looking to obtain sandbags. "You know how long you've held up people picking up bags?" the man asked Trudeau. "I've been waiting in line down the road for 30 minutes while you've been here soaking up the rays." "While you're here, no one can pick up sand," he continued. "You held people up, all the RCMP and security held people up." Trudeau responded to the volunteer by saying he understood the "frustrations with security" that accompanies the prime minister wherever he goes, and that his aim was to encourage more Canadians to volunteer. The prime minister's executive assistant, Philip Proulx, said on Twitter that the RCMP said "no trucks had been blocked" due to the Trudeau's visit. In an email, the RCMP confirmed to CBC News that a police motorcade for Trudeau "did not cause any delays during today's visit." The general manager for the city of Ottawa's emergency and protective services department said in a statement Saturday evening that traffic in the area was higher than normal due to the high number of volunteers parking onsite and the presence of emergency vehicles and Canadian Forces. "However, the city's emergency operations were not impeded and a traffic plan was in place to accommodate the [prime minister's] visit and the movement of traffic," Anthony Di Monte said in the emailed statement.<doc-sep>Share this Story: In Constance Bay, students cut class — to help sandbag In Constance Bay, students cut class — to help sandbag Photo by Erica Endemann / jpg Article content The Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre rippled with energy Friday morning, with residents — and even some students cutting class — gathering to fill sandbags as the rain pounded and the Ottawa River swelled. The large mound of sand at the centre of the parking lot was a hive of activity as people dug and poured as quickly as possible in an effort to outrace Mother Nature. The city announced late Friday that flood levels could exceed 2017 measurements by a metre and a half. Emergency teams were going door to door in Constance Bay, telling people to prepare to evacuate. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or In Constance Bay, students cut class — to help sandbag Back to video The military arrived in the area early Friday morning. At the community centre, children dragged sandbags behind them to fill trailers attached to trucks, which were waiting to pull off to deliver the bags to at-risk homes. For some, the community service was also a teaching moment. Paul Jelinksi, a west-end English and humanities teacher, was there with his Grade 8 class. “My students are currently looking at climate change and the effects,” he said. “Yesterday they said they wanted to take some action with regards to helping the local community. So we loaded up the cars and just came down to the nearest community centre.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content jpg They weren’t the only ones skipping school. Shadine Robinson began her day at the community centre with her two daughters and a band of their friends. The girls had slept at Robinson’s house the night before so they could come as a group to help sandbag in the morning. Robinson has lived in the area for 35 years. “I have a lot of friends that are affected,” she said. “It’s coming up through their sump pumps and they’re just worried it’s going to come up through the floor.” She planned to return again at night and work through the weekend. Further to the east, flooding threatened homes in the Dunrobin area. Along the winding streets of the Dunrobin Shore neighbourhood, backyards were becoming encased in water, with waves beginning to reach some people’s decks. Helen Couture was perplexed at the encroaching water that was already lapping at the stairs of her back porch. She and her husband built their home in 2007. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Toggle full screen mode Previous Gallery Image Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Megan Gillis / Postmedia Photo by Megan Gillis / Postmedia Photo by Megan Gillis / Postmedia Photo by Megan Gillis / Postmedia Photo by Megan Gillis / Postmedia Photo by Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia Next Gallery Image Toggle gallery captions All 41 Photos for Gallery “We are behind the (city’s) 100-year flood line,” she said. “That’s why it doesn’t make sense to us that this year the water is so close. We made sure to meet the criteria. But it doesn’t seem to be enough this year.” She pointed out the branches and debris in the water that could be seen floating by. “That’s people’s decks broken up by the waves.” Like many others, Couture and her husband plan to build a dam with soil against their backdoor to stop the water from reaching their house. She thinks they might try and build a wall to avoid future flooding. She said they have no plans to move. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Britannia area braces as water levels keep rising ‘Water is our enemy right now’: Aylmer residents push back against rising river City asks for voluntary evacuations as major rain storm threatens to push levels to new highs Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ottawa Citizen Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>Canadian Armed Forces personnel have joined volunteers from across the city in flood-prone Constance Bay, helping residents prepare for the worst as the Ottawa River continues to rise. With rain in the forecast and a snowpack that continues to melt, water levels are expected to increase rapidly over the weekend. By Monday or Tuesday, flows and levels are expected to exceed those at the height of the May 2017 flood. Just how bad it gets will depend on how much rain or snow falls, according to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board (ORRPB). The Ottawa River could rise 50 centimetres above peak levels seen in 2017. In Arnprior, just upstream from Constance Bay, the average water level for April is 74.35 metres above sea level. In 2017, it reached a record of 75.95 metres, and this year it's expected to reach 76.40 metres, according to data provided by the ORRPB Friday. The Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Constance Bay Friday morning. (Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC) The military arrived in Constance Bay just before 9 a.m. Friday, joining residents and volunteers who have been filling sandbags for days. Among the volunteers sandbagging Friday in Constance Bay are Ottawa MPs Catherine McKenna and Karen McCrimmon, as well as the Ottawa 67's hockey team. Ontario Premier Doug Ford toured the Constance Bay area Friday morning, and told reporters it "just rips your heart out" to see affected residents face-to-face. Premier tours flood zone in Constance Bay CBC News Ottawa 0:25 Premier Doug Ford says help from the Canadian Armed Forces gives residents a sense of security. 0:25 Support centre The closest of the city's three community support centres is at the Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre at 262 Len Purcell Dr. From Friday to Sunday it's open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers 500-millilitre bottles of water, showers, toilets, food from the Salvation Army, outlets for charging devices, Wi-Fi, and access to staff from the Canadian Red Cross, Emergency Social Services for emergency housing and personal support, and Ottawa Public Health. Flood preparation continues in Constance Bay CBC News Ottawa 0:48 Volunteers and Canadian Armed Forces personnel pitched in to help fill sandbags on Friday. 0:48 Getting sandbags There are three locations for picking up sandbags close to Constance Bay: The Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre at 262 Len Purcell Dr. Greenland Road at Armitage Avenue. The boat launch at MacLarens Landing. There are also some locations a little farther away: The beach at Moorhead Drive just north of Fitzroy Provincial Park. 320 Mississippi Dr. off the Mississippi River. 274 Morris Island Dr. in Arnprior. 4127 John Shaw Rd. in Kinburn. You can request help with sandbags, and eventually with cleanup, on the city's website. Ottawa 67's help fill sandbags in Constance Bay CBC News Ottawa 0:34 Head coach André Tourigny says players were excited about pitching in to help prepare for floods in Ottawa. 0:34 Volunteering If you want to help people protect their homes, including filling sandbags, go to the Royal Canadian Legion at 377 Albirch Rd. It's open 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. from Friday until Sunday. Bring appropriate clothing, footwear, water, snacks and sunscreen. You'll get lunch. You'll have to register, including signing a waiver, and you must be at least 12 years old. If you're under 18, you'll have to be with a parent or guardian. People in Constance Bay are filling up sand bags to take to their homes to help protect them from flooding. There is also a call for volunteers to help fill sand bags. This is the third disaster the community is facing in two years. Flooding 2017 and tornado 2018. #ottnews pic.twitter.com/ihT7IgViux —@Krystalle_CBC Road closure Len Purcell Drive is closed eastbound from Whistler Road to Fireside Drive. Pete Davies rebuilt his home in Constance Bay to flood-plain standards after the flood in 2017, and now it's threatened again. (Krystalle Ramlakhan/CBC) Pete Davies, who has lived on the bay for 20 years, said he rebuilt his home last summer to flood-plain standards after the devastating flooding in 2017. "We just finished rebuilding, and everything's to standard, and now ... with all the numbers coming in, we might not be fine," he said. "We just went through it in 2017, and we thought we'd never see it again. A 100-year flood [twice] in two years, it's not nice.... This is my home, and that's why we rebuilt to the standards it is." Constance Bay resident Paul Graveline experienced flooding in 2017 and again this year. (Radio-Canada) Paul Graveline, whose family has lived on the bay for more than 20 years, said the water isn't far from the peak reached at his house in 2017. Graveline said he'll need sandbags to keep it at that level and prevent extensive damage. He hadn't started sandbagging beforehand because until late Thursday, water levels were expected to stay below those reached in 2017, he said. Graveline also said he wants to have the house lifted up next year, and is hoping for financial assistance to do it. "We can't live with — and nor can the province of Ontario and the citizens of Ontario — live with paying us every time this happens," he said. "I think if we can get a one-time fix here, bring the place up substantially ... then we're fine for the future." A flooded home in Constance Bay. (David Richard/Radio-Canada)<doc-sep>
Share this Story: 'We just hope this makes a difference': Volunteers spend Easter packing sandbags in Ottawa 'We just hope this makes a difference': Volunteers spend Easter packing sandbags in Ottawa Photo by Matt Gergyek / Postmedia Article content Pierre Grandbois spent the last three days preparing his grandparents’ two-storey home in Crystal Bay for the worst, the memory of the 2017 flood that struck the National Capital Region still fresh in his mind. His grandparents, who winter in Florida, are driving back to Ontario now, and he wants them to return to a home above water. Back in 2017 the basement of the home flooded with five feet of water causing about $30,000 in electrical damage. Grandbois is determined to not let that happen again. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'We just hope this makes a difference': Volunteers spend Easter packing sandbags in Ottawa Back to video Sitting on the edge of the Ottawa River, across from Aylmer, the house is about 25 meters from the water, for now. Water levels in the area are expected to peak April 29, with the river 30 centimetres higher than it is today. Photo by Matt Gergyek / Postmedia “I’m feeling pretty optimistic,” Grandbois said between lugging sandbags to the nearly completed sandbag wall surrounding the home, wrapped in a layer of plastic. A sump pump is ready to spur into action in the basement if things do go downhill. “Better safe than sorry. Preparing extra is worth it.” Article content At Barry Mullen Park, about 30 volunteers from all over Ottawa gathered to fill sandbags for locals to use to safeguard their homes. Derek Pickell and Ken Lloyd started volunteering at around 10 a.m. and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “It’s been a tough year,” Pickell said, referring to the tornado that hit the National Capital Region in September 2018, and this year’s long and brutal winter.“I get the sense that people are more confident this time. We just hope this makes a difference.” Siming Yuan came all the way from Kanata to pitch in and plans on staying as “long as it’s needed.” “You’re living in the community, be part of the community, do something for the community,” he said. Photo by Matt Gergyek The city is seeking volunteers tomorrow as well, in numerous locations: Article content Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre at 262 Len Purcell Drive Ron Kolbus Centre at 102 Greenview Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highway 174 and Morin Road from 8 a.m. to. 6 p.m There are about 20 locations where the city is deploying sand and sandbags. Ottawa received 35.4 mm of rain on Friday and another 6 mm on Saturday. Less than 15 mm is projected to fall in the next week however a flood warning is still in effect until Monday. According to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s latest models, released Sunday afternoon, the water levels will not reach the heights of May 2017, but there is rain expected over the northern portion of the watershed that could impact this area. Article content “Water levels from Britannia to Cumberland are expected to increase an additional 0.40 meters above the current elevation over the next seven days,” says the RVCA. This forecast is still 0.25 meters below the peak levels of May 2017.