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By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
Protesters express concern over pandemic mandates and restrictions
HALDIMAND—This past weekend, hundreds of local supporters of the Freedom Convoy currently stationed in downtown Ottawa participated in a uniquely Haldimand-style take on the protest, dubbed the ‘Haldimand Norfolk Tractor Convoy’.
The local convoy had several starting points, with vehicles gathering in Dunnville, Tillsonburg, Langton, and Cayuga and travelling past supporters who came out and waved flags, including MPP Toby Barrett who posted a photo from Selkirk and engaged in jovial discussion with convoy supporters on his social media. Eventually all the vehicles converged in a Simcoe parking lot.
Constable Mary Gagliardi of Haldimand OPP told The Press that they were aware of the event and monitoring it, that they would not be providing escorts, but would be closely involved in ensuring things went smoothly.
“The OPP’s role is to ensure the orderly movement of traffic to protect the public and keep the peace on OPP-patrolled roads and in OPP jurisdiction,” said Gagliardi.
In a follow-up on Monday morning, she said, “The weekend’s convoy went very well and was overall a peaceful event. I am not aware of any charges or fines being served to anyone.”
Selkirk resident and nurse Janelle Meredith was one of the organizers of the convoy. She shared her thoughts: “This weekend went off without a single hiccup…. I didn’t really organize the convoy at all. The people came together and organized this. All I did was facilitate their unification. It was nothing short of miraculous.”
Meredith said that this is only the beginning. She also said that organizers have a “shipment of bubbles arriving at HQ for all the OPP officers in attendance on Saturday as a thank you gift.”
Haldimand-Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis was on-hand in Simcoe greeting protesters, but Meredith said she never spoke to Lewis or Barrett.
As is the case across Canada, a request for comments on the tractor convoy on social media drew a wide range of perspectives, from the extreme to the measured on both sides of the argument.
Some commenters attacked Prime Minister Trudeau, some the media at large, and others engaged in arguments where words like “sheep” were lobbed back in the face of pleas to listen to science, but many attempted to offer genuine explanations of why they do or do not support the convoy.
Below are some examples of how divided our local population remains on the issue of mandates and restrictions.
“I’ll tell you why I was there,” said convoy attendee Elisha Plumstead. “I was there to support the freedoms of everyone and to support the freedoms of my child. Today was the first day of her life she has seen so many mask-less faces. She’s seen that there is nothing to be afraid of. She has learnt that she has a choice.”
“I was part of the Cayuga to Simcoe convoy today,” said Larry Dicy. “I’ve never been prouder to be a Canadian than I am right now. My wife and I participated in this convoy to stand up for our rights and freedoms being stripped away from us one by one. Maybe if we can get these useless illogical mandates ended, I will be able to see my 83-year-old mother in the hospital again. We’ve been unable to see her for months now. These mandates are cruel and need to end.”
Attila Elek added, “Totally support the movement. If it’s a peaceful protest, they should have all the rights to do it. If you don’t agree with the protest that is your right as well. We allowed many other groups to protest. So let’s give them the same right.”
“Never try and stop people from protesting, even if you disagree with their views,” said Kim Becker. “One day your own job, family, and beliefs might be on the line and your right to peacefully protest and stand up for your rights is what makes the freedoms in Canada so amazing! It is worth fighting for!”
Caledonia resident Marisa Ann said it’s great to live in a country where we can protest, “but a protest has to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The protest in Ottawa has no end. It offers no alternative to the mandate. You can’t simply go up to someone and say change this, and if you don’t, I won’t leave. And then I will be a nuisance to the neighbourhood.”
“A legitimate and powerful expression of democratic dissent by ordinary Canadians has been hijacked by racist hate groups that should never have been tolerated,” said Dorothy Stanley, speaking to the reports of swastikas and other hate symbols appearing from select participants of the Ottawa convoy. Many convoy supporters are quick to distance themselves from those hateful elements, and the issue seemed to be largely avoided locally.
Janet Fraser summed up her opinion on the divide between local residents, pleading with all involved to keep things civil.
“We have so much freedom in this country people take so for granted. The mandates have saved lives … and only the virus will let us know when it is time to drop the mandates,” she said. “Hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths are still very high. Be safe, be kind… remember the virus is the enemy… listen to each other, and follow science.”
