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3 Dryden residents sprayed with bear spray, 29-year-old charged

By Ryan Forbes Sep 16, 2022 | 11:09 AM


The OPP says you aren’t allowed to just bear mace people. Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service.

A 29-year-old Calgary woman is facing two charges after allegedly spraying three people with bear mace in a local business on Monday.

The Dryden OPP says on September 12, police received a call to a business on Government Street saying that a person walked into the business, sprayed three individuals with bear spray, and left.

The OPP made the arrest on September 14.

As a result, 29-year-old Kaylee Crowchild of Calgary, AB has been charged with:

– Assault with a weapon,
– Causing a disturbance,

The accused is scheduled to appear in Dryden courts on October 17, 2022.

The Criminal Code of Canada considers bear spray a prohibited weapon when used for the purpose of harming another individual, even in self-defence situations. It’s considered the same as pepper spray, which is illegal to purchase and possess in Canada.

However, bear spray is able to be carried legally in Canada in wilderness situations, as long as the package volume is under 500 ml and the label clearly shows it is intended for use on animals. But you may be charged with carrying a concealed weapon if you’re in a city or residential area.