The capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has local Venezuelans both celebrating his ouster and wondering if their homeland can peacefully transition to a democratic state. They want to develop their country in peace.”Protesters march through downtown Ottawa as part of the 'Hands Off Venezuela' rally on Jan. 4, 2026. Venezuelans 'celebrating everywhere they go'In Ottawa, Venezuelans who spoke to CBC/Radio-Canada greeted news of Maduro’s arrest with a mixture of joy and cautious optimism. Vanier restaurant Toasty Arepas — which is popular among the Venezuelan Canadian community — was noticeably empty Saturday, with employee Valentina Garcia saying it's not usually so quiet on the weekend. She called the “Hands Off Venezuela” protests “shameful” and “embarrassing,” adding that many of the people involved were not even Venezuelan.

Source: CBC News January 05, 2026 19:49 UTC