On Jan. 28, 2022, the “Freedom Convoy” entered Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates for cross-border trucking. The convoy originated in British Columbia and gathered participants as it crossed Canada on its way to the capitol. The Prime Minister proclaimed the Emergencies Act on Feb. 15 and a week later the protesters left Ottawa.
This week, Commissioner Paul Rouleau released his report on this first invocation of the Emergencies Act which gave extraordinary powers to the government. The report stated that while conditions had been met for enacting the Act, the situation could have been avoided if government and law enforcement had handled things more effectively early in the protest.
While the national capitol was the focus of attention during this time, other similar events were taking place across Canada. One such action took place in Winnipeg, where protesters occupied the Legislature grounds.
RM of Wallace-Woodworth Reeve Clayton Canart recently attended the Disaster Management Conference where a representative of the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) brought his account of the event. Canart said, “Their (WPS) version of how the convoy and protest at the legislative grounds area carried on compared to how the media portrayed seemed to be two different stories. The media story line would have led me to believe there were levels of unrest. After listening to the representative's presentation, I would say law enforcement had a good working relationship with them.”
Canart added that “they actually had a committee that was regularly meeting with the police. Essentially, they were willing to work together with law enforcement to make things work with the least amount of impact to traffic and the residents.”
Councillor Val Caldwell, who also attended the Winnipeg conference noted, “The media had reported there were multiple complaints registered with the police and the police officer said to date, there's not a single complaint that has been registered with the police.”
A year later a very different scenario unfolded at a property near Dugald, Manitoba. There, property owner Walter Hiebert, who is hosting hundreds from across Canada associated with last year’s protests, has established Camp Hope.
Speaking to the media Hiebert said, "Camp Hope is not here to tear the government down. We are not here to block roads. Camp Hope has nothing to do with the convoy. That was pushing the mandates.” He said the goal of Camp Hope is “bringing people back together and bringing groups back together and bringing peace."
Elkhorn’s Zoey Jebb, a local wellness practitioner attended the opening event for Camp Hope last weekend. She brings her perspective here: “The main goal was to come together in unity. To discuss, create and share solutions for moving forward, united as a nation.”
The gathering, known as the World Unity Convoy, included spiritual speakers, political speakers. drumming circles, a Sunday church service, music, dancing and unity ceremonies. There was a leadership symposium with sessions on resource management, effective pushback against policies that hurt people, and how to heal moving forward.
Jebb said fun and food were important too with a craft table for kids, free food for everyone all weekend and a community market. She added “There were so many different groups of people, backgrounds and religions but we all came together to share, to listen and to be a part of the healing needed, to support one another in this healing. We are diverse, but we are all in agreement that we wish to move forward together, to respect and honour our differences while still walking side by side. Each of us needs to heal and that is not going to happen by appointing a new holiday or with a bunch of empty promises. That happens with the people… and together, we can take those steps, helping one another along their individual paths while respecting the diversity that makes us all so unique.”
She concluded by saying, “No more division. Respect, honour and compassion go a long way. Let's bring those values back, walk in them daily, and see how quickly our communities - our entire country - change.”
Certainly, a new perspective.
