Support for protests against vaccine mandates has grown in the Battlefords, compared to the opposite reaction in Ottawa. (submitted/Sanch Weeks Diebel/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

Mandates protest

Local residents supporting, joining truckers convoy

Feb 3, 2022 | 1:56 PM

As the polarizing ‘freedom protest’ continues in Ottawa and other parts of the country, a number of residents in the Battlefords region have taken part.

Following the rally in support of the trucker’s convoy when it briefly stopped in North Battleford, several truckers tagged along for the trip, some with family in tow. Semi owner and operator Nicole Hundt spoke with battlefordsNOW and described the experience as amazing, exhausting and surreal.

“I’ve never felt so hated, but so loved and respected, all at one time,” she said.

Earlier this week, her group parked over on a farmer’s field in Ontario, after she voluntarily cleared it for vehicles from the convoy.

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During the trip, Hundt said that people have filled their trucks with food, to the point where they’ve actually had to hand out food to demonstrators.

“Everybody has provided for us in such an amazing way,” she said.

(submitted/Nicole Hundt)

Hundt said while her experience has been that the larger portion of residents want them there protesting, she acknowledged that many do not, citing some instances of eggs being thrown at the trucks. She added when she heard news of Nazi flags and soup kitchen’s being taken advantage of, she was surprised.

“We have been very respectful, we don’t involve ourselves in confrontational arguments, even when someone has tried to start one,” she said. “There are people that are not part of the convoy that are trying to take advantage.”

“We understand there’s people who do not want us here. I respect that difference of opinion, we’re just trying to find a middle ground where both of us feel our needs are being met.”

On the topic of demands, she said she shares the goals of the convoy, which is to have a conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and lay out their reasons for ending vaccine requirements.

“We’re not an anti-vax movement, we just asking for the choice and freedom to make our own decision on if we want the vaccination or not,” she said. “There’s people that aren’t allowed to watch their kids play hockey because they don’t have the vaccination. We want the freedom to do that and we respect those who want to get vaccinated.”

As the protest continues, Hundt is hopeful of what the outcome will be.

“History in the making,” she said. “Whichever way it goes, my family and I have been a part of something.”

Support back home

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

During the Ottawa demonstration, hundreds of North Battleford residents gathered in front of City Hall, before forming a convoy of around 50-60 vehicles to drive a brief loop through the city.

John Nunez, who took part in gathering, said he was encouraged by the number of people joining in.

“This is the best way we can demonstrate what we stand for,” he said.

Talking about the criticism the movement has received, from endangering public health, to providing momentum for people with bigoted views, Nunez said he believes there’s been a lot of bad propaganda around the story, as well as promotion of fear.

“I don’t see anything racial about it, I just see one idea that everyone is sharing and that’s what I’m standing for,” he said. “This whole thing has been about fear and the best way to divide people.”

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, [but] we’re focused on the bigger picture, advocating for freedom and freedom of choice.”

Organizers of the demonstration in North Battleford called on those gathered to continue to show support for the convoy.

Solution unlikely to come soon, calls for intervention

The Government of Canada, which had previously condemned the protest, has shown no further inclination of having discussions with the protest organizers.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Trudeau gave no sign that he would negotiate with them directly, citing the results of the election showed voters chose parties that support vaccine mandates. He also noted the reports of some participants harassing local businesses, waving Nazi flags and more.

Ottawa’s Mayor Jim Watson has called for more direct policing of the convoy and criticized Conservative MP’s who went to show support for the protesters, calling the action an “absolute disgrace” on Twitter. Police estimate they have already spent more than $3 million to manage the protest and respond to emergencies.

There are also calls for the more than $10 million raised by protest organizers on GoFundMe to go towards those costs. The crowdfunding site said it’s reviewing the fundraising campaign to ensure it complies with its terms of service.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW