Freedom Convoy gets strong support

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This article was published 27/01/2022 (1217 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People lined the overpasses, shoulders and waysides of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Winnipeg on Tuesday, eager to show their support for the Freedom Convoy.

Waving homemade signs and Canada flags, thousands of people braved the bitter cold to send their message of support to truckers taking part in the historic event.

Trucks left both east and west coasts with the goal of arriving in Ottawa on Friday to protest vaccine mandates.

The event was organized by a group called Canada Unity, which included organizers from every province.

The line of trucks and supporters took over an hour to pass supporters stationed at the Centre of Canada Park on Tuesday, where vehicles quickly filled all available parking on the highway, service roads and in parking lots hours before the convoy arrived.

Dale Enns is one of the Manitoba organizers who joined the convoy in his home province. Reached the following day near Vermillion Bay, he said even organizers aren’t sure how many people are now involved.

“I lost track,” he said.

While Enns knew there was support for the convoy, he was still shocked by the number of people lining the roadway.

“I wasn’t expecting to see this many (people),” he said. “Manitobans are really rallying behind us. It was awesome to see.”

Enns said taking part was important to him, as he thought of the kind of world they will be leaving for the next generation. “It’s for my daughter,” he said.

While the rally is being held to protest vaccine mandates, that doesn’t mean all oppose vaccines. Enns estimated 60 percent of the people taking part are vaccinated and said he has received a single dose of the vaccine.

He’s confident that Ottawa will hear their message.

“It’s time for our country to open up,” he said.

Patty Westra was one of the supporters on the side of the road, holding a Sherwood hockey stick attached to a Molson Canadian flag.

“We want our constitutional rights,” she said. “Each and every one should have a choice on their bodily autonomy and what’s best for them.”

Steinbach’s Gladys Kehler also braved the cold to deliver a message.

“We’re just here to support the ending of the mandates,” she said, adding it was time for Canadians to be free to live their lives.

Alexandra came to the protest with her husband and five kids. The Niverville mother said they wanted to support the truckers.

“It’s encouraging to see someone truly taking a stand against the mandates,” she said. “There’s no need for them. There’s so many countries that have opened up and Canada is just stagnant.”

While the convoy has attracted broad grassroots support as well as recent support from Conservative politicians, not everyone is behind it.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance issued a statement on Saturday, saying they do not support and in fact strongly disapprove of protests on public roadways, highways and bridges.

“Members of the trucking industry who want to publicly express displeasure over government policies can choose to hold an organized, lawful event on Parliament Hill or contact their local MP,” they said. “What’s not acceptable is disrupting the motoring public on highways and commerce at the border.”