Jodie Marshall hired William Komer’s Campus Creative in November 2021 to develop a website to manage school catering orders for her pasta shop. Months later, she said she’s still waiting for the website and her calls remain unanswered.
“They were supposed to give me my website in August,” Marshall said. “The developer kept saying William should just put it on the secure server. But I never got my site.”
Marshall is one of the residents of southwestern Ontario who claim they have been denied services and money from Comer.
CBC News reached out to Komer, who responded to the allegations Thursday, including saying Marshall owes him even more money for the site on top of the $20,000 he’s already paid.
William Komer heads The United People of Canada, which he says plans to turn St. Brigid’s in Ottawa at a community hub. Comer, who is connected to at least five media businesses in London, told CBC News that Marshall still owes him money for her website. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
Once known for his entrepreneurship, the owner of five businesses in the London area recently gained attention for his role as director of The United People of Canada (TUPC).
The group has claimed ties to Freedom Convoy, which has held protests against the pandemic mandate in Ottawa and other cities this year. The group moved into a historic church in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighborhood last summer, and despite the landlord terminating the lease for unpaid rent and lack of insurance, the group refuses to go.
TUPC alleges the group has paid and filed numerous affidavits alleging aggressive behavior by neighbors. A judge is set to rule on the eviction on September 27.
The organization has posted red banners at the church bearing white tree insignia and has set up its own private security force around the property.
Other complaints
Stephanie Steele of Ingersoll Ont., said she booked wedding photos through Komer’s Under the Umbrella company, but on the big day in June, she said she was worried they wouldn’t show up. Then it took over a month to see promised photos of the $1,300 package, which she said were of poor quality, she said.
Komer, center, sits in a chair on the steps of the former church of St. Brigid’s in Ottawa on August 25th. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
“There are weird groups where my husband is in the back row, and my dad’s face is completely covered and everyone is looking in different directions, and it was just very unprofessional,” Steele said.
When he couldn’t find a representative from Under the Umbrella, he called the photographer, who said he would have to pay for better photos. He made several attempts to reconcile the situation with the company itself, but there was no other response.
Campus Creative leases space from the Diocese of London in St Peter’s Cathedral Basilica. (Angela McInnes/CBC)
Under Umbrella’s website, the company is listed at the same address as Campus Creative, at 533 Clarence Street, in a building owned by St Peter’s Basilica, which houses many organisations.
When CBC News went to visit the site, another tenant said no one had been to the Campus Creative office for at least three weeks.
Matthew Clarke, director of communications for the Diocese of London, said Campus Creative still leases the space and the company remains active to his knowledge.
Komer also told CBC News that he was not aware of any customer complaints about undeliverable services for wedding photography.
He said a number of his staff resigned due to harassment related to their work for TUPC, and that is why customers have not received responses to requests for refunds. He said he plans to hire more staff and continue operations in London while staying in Ottawa.
