PERTH-WELLINGTON – An anti-mandate protest is set to roll through this area on Feb. 19, although organizers aren’t answering any questions about it.
Online posters promoting the Perth-Wellington “Freedom Convoy” call for participants to meet at Atwood’s Elma Memorial Community Centre in time to depart at noon and “slow roll” through Listowel, Gowanstown, Palmerston, Teviotdale, Rothsay and Drayton.
The event is set to end at Driscoll Farms on Sideroad 12 of Mapleton Township around 2:30 p.m.
Organizers indicate all types of vehicles are welcome.
“Trucks, cars, tractors, rigs bring them all,” the poster states.
The poster indicates the purpose of the event is to “Help end mandates” and asks participants to “Keep it Canadian – peaceful, polite and free.”
In response to an interview request, Tammy Steckly, one of the event organizers, requested “a pre-set question layout before committing to an interview.”
After receiving an outline of anticipated questions, Steckly responded via Facebook message: “Unfortunately, the organizers have declined interviews.
“As a representative of the group, I myself have no comments at this time.”
The advance questions focused on the organizers’ aims and motivations for the demonstration, as well as specific organizational details.
Driscoll Farms owner Neil Driscoll said he was not part of the organizational group.
“We were just asked if they could use our yard as an ending point. We agreed to that. So that’s the only involvement I have,” Driscoll stated.
Driscoll said organizers indicated they were looking for a wrap-up location in the interests of safety.
“To make sure that everyone that starts the convoy, ends the convoy,” he explained.
“So they know that everyone’s safe and then they would be going home from here.”
North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg, in an emailed statement to the Listowel Banner on Feb. 14, said the municipality is aware of the event. Kasenberg said North Perth council supports “our health experts and particularly the advice from Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), and express concern about misinformation broadly circulating in the public.”
“A fortunate aspect of being Canadian is the remarkable freedom we have to assemble and protest,” said Kasenberg. “We have seen generally civil and respectful protests in our immediate neighbourhood to this date, although some legal actions were taken in North Perth in recent past when protesters violated gathering provisions. The rule of law intersects with the freedom of assembly and privileges to protest peacefully; enforcement of existing laws and regulations is a duty entrusted to the OPP and our bylaw enforcement officer.
“As long as protestors are civil and do not break laws, local bylaws, HPPH mandates and instructions, we will not directly interfere with such protests, as they are permitted by right. We expect protesters to show the same consideration and obedience to the laws in force in our community as seen in communities in neighbouring counties.”
Contacted on Feb. 10, Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson said he had seen online promotion for the event the previous day.
“I haven’t been invited to it, but I did see it,” he told the Advertiser.
Davidson said he had no concerns about the event.
“I respect the rights of people to make choices and if they want to have this protest… I’m not against people coming forward and saying their piece, as long as it’s done peacefully,” the mayor stated.
“My dad was a union organizer and I understand about standing up for your rights.”
While promotional material for the local event does not directly mention the “Freedom Convoy” currently blocking streets in Ottawa in protest of COVID-19 mandates or various blockades at border points in Ontario and Western Canada, the slogan “We stand with our truckers – Convoy 2022” appears on the online poster.
“I support people in their right to protest,” said Davidson when asked about related protests.
However, he noted, “there comes a time where if it’s now blocking food getting to our grocery shelves, they need to be cognizant of that and let some of those vehicles through.”
Asked if the municipality was concerned about safety related to the event, Davidson said the township was not anticipating taking any action.
“We’re not planning anything in the municipality,” he said.
“We expect this to be peaceful and it’s just going down our local and county roads and, you know, once they’re on the roadway that’s an issue for the OPP not the township.”
Minto Mayor George Bridge, fresh from a local economic development committee meeting where he heard about the impact of the border closures on Minto industries such as TG Minto, which was forced to significantly reduce production on Thursday and Friday last week, wasn’t supportive of the Perth-Wellington convoy.
“How can I support this? How can people support this? I don’t understand it,” said Bridge, who noted the protests against mandates have arrived, ironically, just as decreasing COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations are allowing the province to continue lifting restrictions as planned.
“If you look what the province has said they’re going to do, Ontario should be getting pretty well past it by the middle of March,” said Bridge.
Bridge stated the Town isn’t planning any measures in response to the convoy, noting roadways are under OPP jurisdiction.
“I would imagine they’ll be reluctant to do anything, but just watch it,” he said of police.
The Banner reached out to Perth County OPP, who indicated they are aware of the event.
“The OPP encourages everyone on the roads to be patient and respectful of each other, and anticipate delays due to the convoy demonstration. The public is reminded to please plan any travels accordingly,” said Const. Jillian Johnson in an email.
With files from Mike Wilson
