Many protesters involved in the Freedom Convoy and Rolling Thunder protests in Ottawa earlier this year are back in the city, co-ordinating events on Canada Day.
James Topp, a veteran marching across Canada to protest remaining COVID-19 vaccine mandates, ended his journey with his supporters Thursday at the National War Memorial.
After Thursday evening’s speeches at the war memorial, Ottawa police said they made four arrests, including for assaulting police officers, and are continuing to investigate.
Veteran James Topp, in the orange vest, is flanked by supporters as he arrives at Hog’s Back Park in Ottawa on June 30, 2022. Topp marched across the country to protest remaining COVID-19 vaccine mandates. (Jean Delisle/CBC)
March, dance party planned
Organizers will hold a “freedom music concert” featuring entertainers who became popular during the Freedom Convoy for performing on a stage that was set up in front of Parliament Hill on Wellington Street.
Protesters are also planning to march to Parliament Hill and hold a dance party there.
Andrew MacGillvray, a veteran and member of the V4F steering committee, said while thousands of people are expected, it’s tough to gauge how many will actually attend.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of different groups of workers who have been affected by the mandate,” he said.
“Whether it be paramedics, whether it be postal workers or carpenters or, you know, teachers and all the different professions or workers who — across the country — have had been negatively affected by the mandate.”
“[We’ve] planned, we’re prepared and we have the resources,” said Steve Bell, Ottawa’s interim police chief, earlier this week.
A person is pinned to the ground by police outside the National War Memorial. Ottawa police said they arrested four people after Thursday evening’s speeches. (CBC)
‘We are not coming to occupy your city’
It’s not clear if protesters have applied for or received permits for their planned events. MacGillvray said his group has been in contact with police and is aware they are “under a lot of pressure.”
“We are going to be peaceful. We are going to be lawful. And if [police] want to try and crack down on us for peacefully protesting on Parliament Hill, then there’s nothing we can do. We’ll just have to deal with it at that time,” MacGillvray said.
“But from us, it’s going to be nothing but peace. And we’re going to be lawful. And our organization has a code of conduct and we are not going to be breaking the law in any shape or form.”
While V4F is co-ordinating many of the Canada Day events, other groups that continue to hold grievances with the government are also participating — and they’ve organized themselves as the Canadian Citizens Coalition.
“We’re Canadians as well. We are going to be celebrating Canada on that day. We have the right to be able to do that and we have the right to be able do that where we want,” MacGillvray said.
“We are not coming to occupy your city. You just happen to live in our nation’s capital.”
Many of the participants in the Canada Day events have ties to the Freedom Convoy, which descended on Ottawa’s downtown earlier this year. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)
V4F’s members also include Tom Marazzo, who was invited to come and help run the Freedom Convoy.
Daniel Bulford, another key organizer who helped co-ordinate the Freedom Convoy, also joined Topp for the final leg of his journey.
Bulford is a former RCMP officer who was on the prime minister’s security detail before quitting after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He was the convoy’s head of security, and boasted of having strong relations to police agencies.
Police have become aware of an organized freedom rally group descending on the City of Kingston today and tomorrow for an “event” in our community. This event has been organized by members directly and indirectly involved in previous protests held in Ottawa earlier this year and involves an undisclosed number of individuals travelling from as far as British Columbia and Alberta to participate.
Police have become aware that event organizers are reportedly travelling to the Kingston area to participate in a gathering to celebrate the Summer Solstice with a ceremonial sacred fire in recognition of noted Indigenous significance, on what will be National Indigenous Peoples Day. The Summer Solstice, which is held on June 21st, is the longest day of the year and throughout history and across continents, has been a time for Indigenous cultural celebration.
A “sacred fire ceremony” has been planned at an undisclosed location in the Kingston area by freedom event organizers however, after reaching out to Kingston’s Indigenous community members, police have ascertained that they have no awareness of this planned event nor did they invite this group of individuals to attend their own planned ceremonies.
As a result of learning this information, Kingston’s Indigenous community, out of an abundance of caution, did not follow through with weekend ceremonies leading up to June 21st, and expressed some concern for how this group will affect their planned celebrations for National Indigenous Peoples Day. Police have assured the local Indigenous community that all measures will be taken to ensure that local celebrations are not disrupted.
Kingston Police wishes to assure the community that they are working with external policing partners and local resources will be in place to respond to this organized event and will address all safety issues that may arise as a result.
A B.C. participant in the Ottawa convoy protest organized a pot luck barbecue and some parking lot hockey games for kids in a Langley recreation centre parking loy on Saturday, Feb. 26.
John Bancroft, an excavator operator who lives in Langley’s Brookswood neighbouerhood, said he would like the event to lead to other, similar in-person meet-ups, to start a process of reconciliation and help heal divisions in the country.
“It’s bringing the community together,” Bancroft told the Langley Advance Times.
“Just getting everyone shaking hands again and talking. Once we get that going, it will all fix itself.”
Ottawa convoy participant John Bancroft organized a potluck barbecue and some parking lot hockey games for kids on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the George Preston rec centre. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
The George Preston get-together was not, he stressed, about the anti-vaccine-mandate protest that he took part in.
“It’s completely separate [from that],” said Bancroft.
Bancroft said he left Ottawa before the police moved in and began making widespread arrests.
“I had a gut feeling,” he recalled.
His memories of the Ottawa event were positive.
“My experience was nothing but community coming together,” Bancroft remarked, adding he did not personally witness any of the reported incidents of bad behavior while he was in Ottawa.
Another convoy participant, Al Fortin, a District of Barriere councillor, drove in to bring the “Unity Cup,” an improvised replica of the Stanley Cup created by convoy participants, to the event.
Fortin explained the cup was created from a “garbage can and a mop bucket” after he and fellow convoy participant Ron Rotzetter decided to put an an empty stretch of street to use.
“I said, let’s start some hockey, here,” Fortin recalled.
“For about two and half, three weeks, we went down every day with it and played hockey and got people to sign it,” Fortin related.
The cup was completely covered with names.
Ottawa convoy participant John Bancroft, organizer of a potluck barbecue and some parking lot hockey games for kids on Saturday, Feb. 26, at George Preston rec centre, brought a Canadian flag covered with signatures from the protest. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
“I don’t know how many signatures are on there, but there’s a few,” Fortin said.
“A small fringe minority, let’s go with that.”
Like Bancroft, Fortin left Ottawa before police began making wholesale arrests.
“I wanted to leave with that experience of the unity. That’s what I saw, the whole time I was there, the unity.”
The event was held without permission from Langley Township, but Mayor Jack Froese noted that while the municipality generally doesn’t rent out parking lots, they also don’t prevent people from meeting up in an empty lot, as long as there are no violations of laws or regulations, such as liquor laws.
“People use our parking lots for meetings all the time,” Froese said.
The RNC says it is closely monitoring any “Freedom Convoy 2022” events involving large numbers of vehicles planned in communities across the province this weekend.
The Constabulary says officers will be present, as necessary, to direct traffic and enforce the law.
The RNC is reminding participants and the general public to follow applicable public health guidelines and laws in place federally, provincially and on a municipal level.
Thousands of protesters began occupying the streets of Ottawa just less than three weeks ago, pledging to stay until all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions were removed,
While the message and purpose of the occupation has somewhat shifted, one thing remains: turmoil for residents and business owners in the downtown core.
The Ottawa Police Service has been the target of harsh criticism over its handling of the convoy crisis before and during the occupation, which culminated in the resignation of former police chief Peter Sloly.
Here’s a look back at how this started and where Ottawa sits now.
Supporters cheer on drivers in the protest convoy headed for Ottawa from an overpass in Kingston, Ont., on Friday, Jan. 28. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)
Jan. 23: Convoy spreads message across Canada
As people in Ottawa slugged through another round of COVID-19 restrictions coupled with extremely cold temperatures, another challenge was about to arrive.
The so-called “Freedom Convoy” assembled in various locations across Canada and participants vowed to travel to the heart of the nation’s capital to fight COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, including a vaccine mandate for truckers to cross the Canada-U.S. border.
A person pumps their fists as they stand on top of a transport truck after arriving on Wellington Street in front of on Parliament Hill on Jan. 28. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Jan. 28: Protesters arrive for 1st weekend
The first Thursday and Friday saw the most eager members of the convoy parking their large trucks in Ottawa and blocking streets in the downtown core.
One of the protest’s key organizers warned participants to demonstrate peacefully.
“We cannot achieve our goals if there are threats or acts of violence,” said Benjamin Dichter. “This movement is a peaceful protest, and we do not condone any acts of violence.”
He warned protesters not to enter government buildings, disrespect police officers, act in a way that escalates tense situations, and make “any type of threat.”
The City of Ottawa told residents to expect “significant traffic and transit delays or disruptions.”
Crowds are seen from a helicopter near Parliament Hill on Jan. 29. This was the largest gathering during the occupation. (Alexander Behne/CBC)
Jan. 29: Gathering draws thousands
The largest demonstration took place as thousands converged on Parliament Hill, along with the constant honking of truck and train horns, plus the smell of diesel fuel throughout the downtown core.
Police said no incidents of violence or injury was reported at the event, despite being loud and disruptive. That didn’t mean there weren’t problems, though.
Hateful messaging was spotted amid the crowds, including at least one Confederate Flag and anti-Semitic messaging such as swastikas.
One demonstrator was caught on camera dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while demonstrators adorned a statue of Terry Fox — the inspirational runner who inspired the nation with his “marathon of hope” — with anti-vaccine material and a defaced Canadian flag.
There was an outpouring of condemnation over the way demonstrators decorated the Terry Fox statue. The Canadian icon remains revered more than 40 years after his ‘Marathon of Hope’ and untimely death at age 22. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
The blatant disregard for public health measures, including the wearing of masks, forced the Rideau Centre and other downtown businesses to close.
Jan. 30: More closures due to demonstration
On the first Sunday, the downtown core was once again filled with the sounds of honking and chanting as thousands gathered near Parliament Hill for a second full day of protests.
As of late Sunday evening, the Portage, Chaudière and Alexandra bridges were all closed to traffic, which caused headaches for residents in the region needing to travel to and from work.
Several city-run facilities in the downtown would close Monday including Ottawa City Hall, the Rink of Dreams, and the Ottawa Public Library’s Main and Rideau branches.
At the time, former police chief Peter Sloly said it was possible the protest — which did not have a permit — could extend for several more days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he had COVID-19 on Jan. 31 as thousands of protesters remained in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Week of Jan. 31: PM, mayor won’t meet with protesters
By Tuesday, despite growing criticism from residents and academics, Ottawa’s police chief praised the service’s response to a protest he called “unique in nature, massive in scale, polarizing in context and dangerous in literally every other aspect of the event itself.”
The force’s hate crime hotline was also re-shared to encourage residents to share information about hate crimes related to the demonstrations.
Former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly expressed a belief policing alone couldn’t solve the ongoing demonstration in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
On Wednesday, Sloly said policing might not be enough to end the protest on its own.
“This is a national issue, not an Ottawa issue,” Sloly said. “I am increasingly concerned there is no policing solution to this.”
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP was sending additional resources to assist Ottawa police at the request of the mayor.
Convoy fundraiser co-organizer Tamara Lich spoke on Feb. 3 at the Marriott Hotel in Ottawa. She did not take any questions from the media. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
Feb. 4: GoFundMe shut down
Ottawa police said they would increase their presence and further restrict access to the city’s downtown to control what was expected to be another weekend of noisy protests, but they warned the situation remained volatile and dangerous.
In a Friday morning news release, police said their new “surge and contain strategy” would allow about 150 more officers to be dedicated to patrolling central Ottawa neighbourhoods and enforcing laws.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was time for the “occupation” in Ottawa to end.
Meanwhile, some city councillors of downtown wards walked the streets and said they would continue to do so throughout the weekend to keep residents safe.
Also, the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe announced it would stop payments to the organizers of “Freedom Convoy 2022” and refund donors directly because the protest violated its rules on violence and harassment.
Two protesters ride horses by parked trucks and near Parliament Hill during the second weekend of the demonstration. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Some protesters appeared to have settled in, with bouncy castles, barbecues, wooden shacks and piles of food and fuel appearing in downtown streets and nearby parks.
A protester carries empty jerry cans to troll police officers who were trying to crack down on the transportation of fuel to downtown vehicles. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
At an emergency meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board on Saturday, board chair Coun. Diane Deans said the city was “under siege” and demanded a “concrete plan” to bring the demonstrations to an end.
Feb. 6: City declares state of emergency
The City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Sunday and Mayor Jim Watson described the situation in the nation’s capital as the “the most serious emergency our city has ever faced.”
That evening, dozens of heavily armed police officers descended on the baseball stadium parking lot on Coventry Road, which served as the staging area for the protesters operating in the downtown core.
Protesters said police removed the fuel that was being stored there to supply trucks parked in the city centre.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a municipal state of emergency as the second weekend of the demonstration came to a close. (Felix Desroches/Radio-Canada)
Week of Feb. 7: Need more cops to ‘turn up the heat’
As Ottawa moved into its second full week of dealing with the demonstration, Chief Peter Sloly told a meeting of Ottawa city council he needed an influx of almost 2,000 police officers and civilians to “turn up the heat.”
The city increased fines for noise, idling and fires but demonstrators didn’t seem deterred.
Zexi Li, a 21-year-old resident of Ottawa, is the face of a class-action lawsuit filed against organizers of the convoy that remains in the nation’s capital. (CBC)
On Thursday, a group of protesters disrupted traffic around Ottawa’s main airport for about two hours.
Police also said 911 lines were flooded with bogus calls, many of them originating from the United States.
Two protesters sit in a hot tub at the intersection of O’Connor and Wellington streets in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 12. (Patrick Louiseize/CBC)
Feb. 12: 3rd weekend arrives
Despite warnings, increased fines, and a hit to the pocketbook of those occupying Ottawa, most left their vehicles in park, and police didn’t move to change that.
The Saturday event featured demonstrators enjoying another live concert, but this time with an inflatable hot tub and more illegal fires to keep warm.
The display was enough to push some residents to put their feet down — in the middle of Bank Street.
A counter protest featured hundreds blocking trucks heading toward the downtown core for several hours, while Ottawa police set up an integrated command centre with its provincial and federal policing counterparts.
An Ottawa resident holds a sign as they participate in a counter protest to stop vehicles from driving to Parliament Hill. ( Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
The move gives the federal government temporary powers to handle ongoing blockades and protests against pandemic restrictions.
Feb. 15: Police chief resigns
As day 19 arrived, Peter Sloly announced his resignation as the police chief in Ottawa.
In his resignation letter, Sloly said he was proud of his ability to overhaul the force’s culture to better reflect the “diversity of the community we serve.”
He also said he was leaving the force confident it was “better positioned to end this occupation.”
Interim Ottawa police Chief Steve Bell, left, answers a question at a news conference in early February. Bell takes over for Peter Sloly, right, who resigned on Feb. 15. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
The so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest has paralyzed Ottawa for days, making parts of the nation’s capital inaccessible and forcing some businesses to close.
CTVNews.ca looks at the key events and dates that led to the demonstration.
JAN. 14, 2022
A GoFundMe fundraiser is started for the “Freedom Convoy 2022” by organizers Tamara Lich and BJ Dichter
JAN. 15, 2022
The trucker vaccine mandate comes into force that requires all travellers to be fully vaccinated before crossing the Canada-U.S. border
In a statement, convoy organizers say they came to the decision that the government “crossed a line” with the COVID-19 vaccine passport and vaccine mandates, announcing they plan to travel to Ottawa
JAN. 22, 2022
The U.S. begins barring unvaccinated truck drivers from Canada and Mexico as the country’s vaccine mandate comes into effect
JAN. 23, 2022
The Canadian Trucking Alliance condemns the planned protests 24 hours before a convoy of truckers left British Columbia en route to Ottawa
JAN. 24, 2022
One of the arms of the convoy passes through Regina
JAN. 25, 2022
Another convoy segment passes through Kenora, Ont.
GoFundMe suspends the “Freedom Convoy 2022” fundraiser for the first time to give organizers time to provide a plan for the distribution of funds
JAN. 26, 2022
Segments of the convoy enter Ontario from the Manitoba border
JAN. 27, 2022
GoFundMe releases an initial $1 million to the truckers from their fundraiser
A segment of the convoy passes through the Greater Toronto Area
JAN. 28, 2022
A new convoy passes through Quebec and plans to head to Parliament Hill for Jan. 29
Nova Scotia bans gatherings along the Trans-Canada Highway between the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Border in relation to the convoy protests
Some members of the convoy begin arriving in Ottawa and blocking major streets in the downtown core
JAN. 29, 2022
The main rally for the convoy takes place
Police estimate approximately 3,000 trucks and up to 15,000 protesters took part
Hateful and anti-Semitic imagery is seen in the crowd, including yellow stars, the Confederate flag and swastikas
Widespread condemnation is voiced on some of the protesters behaviours, including harassing a homeless shelter, dancing on the National War Memorial, putting flags and signs on the Terry Fox statue, and public urination on national monuments
Former U.S. president Donald Trump praises the convoy in Ottawa while addressing supporters in Texas
JAN. 30, 2022
Ottawa Police Service launched a criminal investigation into the desecration of the National War Memorial and the Terry Fox statue
A blockade at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing shuts down access to the U.S.-Canada border in solidarity with the main convoy in Ottawa
JAN. 31, 2022
Parliament resumes after the holidays
Ottawa paramedics confirm protesters threw rocks at an ambulance and used racial slurs against a paramedic, leading to a police escort being provided for all further calls for safety
Protesters host speeches on Parliament Hill
Trudeau delivers fiery remarks in a national address saying “we are not intimidated”
FEB. 1, 2022
Ottawa police set up a hotline for crimes related to the protest, including hate crimes, and announced two people were arrested and charged in connection with incidents that took place over the Jan. 29 weekend
Ottawa residents report being challenged, harassed and threatened with violence by protesters
FEB. 2, 2022
Freedom Convoy organizers issue a statement saying they plan to remain in Ottawa “as long as it takes” for all COVID-19 mandates to end
Ottawa Police Service Deputy Chief Steve Bell says at a press briefing the remaining protesters are “highly volatile” and that activities have shifted away from a protest to an occupation
GoFundMe suspends the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser for a second time
FEB. 3, 2022
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino announced the RCMP has approved all requests from the Ottawa Police Service to address the convoy
Convoy organizers hold a press conference where they decried being painted as “racists, misogynists…and even terrorists”
One of the leaders of the convoy Tamara Lich says through a lawyer that the convoy has provided GoFundMe with plans for the funds raised
A second blockade in Alberta in Milk River appears, close to the one near Coutts
FEB. 4, 2022
Former U.S. President Donald Trump expresses support for the trucker convoy, calls Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far left lunatic”
GoFundMe takes down the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser page, saying it violated its terms of service. At the time, the fundraiser had reached more than $10 million
A $9.8 million class-action lawsuit is filed on behalf of downtown Ottawa residents against the protest over incessant truck honking
Ottawa police announce they are enacting a “surge and contain” strategy moving forward
FEB. 5, 2022
U.S. Republicans promise to investigate GoFundMe’s decision to pull the plug on the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser
Solidarity protests take place over the weekend in Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and New Brunswick
FEB. 6, 2022
A state of emergency is declared in Ottawa by Mayor Jim Watson
Ottawa police seize more than 3,000 litres of fuel from protesters, according to demonstrators
FEB. 7, 2022
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson requests an additional 1,800 officers in a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Trudeau, calling the protest a “siege”
Ottawa city council votes to ask the province to bring legislation to be able to charge the protesters for the costs of damages caused by the demonstrations
An injunction is granted for 10 days in the class-action lawsuit against the convoy by Ottawa residents to stop the incessant honking
Trudeau addresses the House of Commons at an emergency debate requested by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
A blockage is erected in Windsor, Ont., at the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Canada to the U.S. through Detroit
Protest organizers say at an “emergency press conference” they want to form a coalition of opposition parties with the Governor General of Canada
FEB. 8, 2022
Ottawa police estimate approximately 500 trucks and personal vehicles remain in the red demonstration zone of the downtown core
Liberal MP Joel Lightbound holds a press conference on Parliament Hill speaking out against Canadian COVID-19 policies
Subscribe to News
