A third freedom convoy event took place in the qathet region on February 12, with a number of supporters gathering in their vehicles to show support for convoys that have been taking place across the country.
Cameron Van Weele, one of the organizers of the weekly convoys, said the local contingent has been showing support since the trucks hit Ottawa.
“We’re a peaceful convoy,” said Van Weele prior to the February 12 event. “We’ll be honking our horns in support.
“I can say, from previous events, that we’ve had lots of support. People have come out of their houses to show their Canadian flags, and to wave.”
In the first event, the convoy passed through Cranberry and Townsite, and through Westview for the second. The third convoy, on February 12, drove through Wildwood.
“There were quite a few requests for us to go out to Wildwood,” said Van Weele.
He said people of all different stripes had been attracted to the convoy. He said it’s an anti-mandate rally, not an anti-vaccine rally. He added that a number of participants are fully vaccinated.
“It’s resonating very well in the community and we’re hearing from people from all walks of life,” said Van Weele. “When we put the word out for the first one, there were a hundred cars. Everyone is just tired of wearing masks, the mandates and restrictions.
“It hurts small businesses and I’ve talked to many, especially in the restaurant industry, having to see the QR codes [for vaccine passports]. Many of them have said, if they are going to do the QR code, the government should be paying them for it. Once again, the businesses are working for free for the government. It takes staff time. A couple of restaurants that I’ve talked to have said their patrons have decreased since the QR code came in. There’s an imbalance there with no justification.”
Van Weele said a lot of the mainstream media is against the movement and the next tactic will be to say things like store shelves are empty because truckers are blocking the border.
“I’m sorry but that’s been a long time coming,” said Van Weele. “They are also saying the automotive plants in Ontario are closed because of the truckers. They are actually planned closures. I read about it a week before the convoy got there [to Ottawa]. It has to do with semi-conductors. It has nothing to do with the convoy.
“A lot of us are getting tired of being lied to by our own government, but by the media as well. That’s part of the protest.”
Before the convoy got underway, Van Weele said there would be a donation box so people could contribute toward the convoy in Ontario, and possibly, to the one in Coutts, Alberta.
Van Weele said organizers had used social media to draw people to the convoy. The group assembled in the parking lot off Alberni Street adjacent to where the old Inn at Westview used to sit, prior to heading off together, displaying signs and flying Canadian flags.
