On high alert in Ottawa:

Race Weekend organizers to look at security plans

Race Weekend will include extra security,

Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said Monday night that his officers were on “heightened alert” after the attacks in Boston — although he added that there is no reason to believe Ottawa is a target.

“We have been in contact with our law enforcement partners at all levels as the investigation continues.

“There is no known threat to our city, however, as one would expect, our first responders are on heightened alert,” Bordeleau told the Citizen in an email.

At the same time, Ottawa is getting ready to host its own major race.

The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is less than six weeks away, on May 25-26.

“In preparing for any major event, such as the Race Weekend,” Bordeleau said, “we work closely with the organizers to ensure the safety and security of participants and spectators.

“We will continue to monitor the investigation and evaluate security arrangements for Race Weekend and any other major events.”

Bordeleau added a message of condolence.

“I know that I speak for the Ottawa Police Service when I say that we stand with the people of Boston and all those affected, including the first responders,” Bordeleau said.

Meanwhile, John Halvorsen, director of the Ottawa Race Weekend, said attacks like the one on the Boston Marathon are the type of nightmare that organizers of large events always have to think about.

“These are scenarios that we have discussed, in Ottawa even, for quite a number of years, that they are potential things that can happen.

“But you’re still shocked when it does happen,” he said.

For a few reasons, Halvorsen said, the Boston Marathon, considered by many to be the world’s most prestigious marathon, is a more likely target than Ottawa.

“Boston of course is a global, visible event, with runners from all over the world.

“It’s in the United States, it’s on Patriots Day — certainly there are some things that line up there that make it maybe more of a target than us, but we are still a capital in Ottawa.

“So we have to be aware of these things.”

He and his team will certainly re-examine all of the security plans for the Ottawa Race Weekend, he said.

“As a result of an incident like this, you have to have a discussion again,” Halvorsen said.