Tag: Memorial

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Mid-Ohio Valley communities schedule Memorial Day events

Mid-Ohio Valley communities schedule Memorial Day events



Romel Henderson, with American Legion Post 15, stood before a monument at City Park following the Memorial Day ceremony in 2021. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — Memorial Day programs organized by differing veterans organizations, funeral homes and service groups will be held Memorial Day Weekend across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

In addition to ceremonies and parades, there will also be a couple of special events.

* On Saturday, MOV Tactical will hold its first Ruck N’ Run race at City Park in Parkersburg. The ruck run/walk will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. with the race to begin at 9 a.m. The registration fee is $30 at MOV Tactical, 409 32nd St., Vienna, or on the day of the race at the City Park Pavilion. More information is available by calling 304-699-9011, 304-480-1401 or 681-588-0144. All proceeds will benefit Disabled American Vets Chapter 52 Pioneer City.

* On Monday, a Memorial Day Picnic organized by DAV Pioneer Chapter 52 will be 1-4 p.m. at 835 DAV Road in Whipple. The event is open to the public and will include free music, food and drinks along with a raffle.

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Bill Harpold, president of the Belpre Area Veterans, hosted the Belpre Memorial Day ceremony at Leavitt Funeral Home in Belpre in 2021. (File Photo)

Elsewhere in the Mid-Ohio Valley, the Memorial Day services and parades will be spread out over the weekend, with one each on Saturday and Sunday and the rest scheduled for Monday.

* On Saturday, Sunset Memory Gardens on West Virginia 95 in south Parkersburg will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

This year’s program will be 9 a.m. Saturday at the Veterans Wall at the front of the cemetery with a rifle salute, flag folding ceremony and other activities. The cemetery’s Avenue of Flags will be on display through the weekend. Sunset will also be hosting a food drive from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 to benefit area veterans.

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* On Sunday, a ceremony will be 2 p.m. at Ravenswood Cemetery. It will feature speakers and county and city officials along with representatives from law enforcement agencies and local veterans groups as special guests at the ceremony.

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* In Belpre, the annual Memorial Day program will be 11 a.m. Monday at Leavitt Funeral Home in Belpre, at the flagpole and veterans memorial dedicated in 2007 by the funeral home to veterans who have received services there.

The event is organized by Leavitt Funeral Home and the Belpre Veterans Association. The program will feature speakers, a rifle salute and the laying of a wreath and the playing of “Taps” during the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served at the funeral home.

* The Beverly-Waterford parade will be 9 a.m. Monday with lineup at Fort Frye High School and services at Beverly Cemetery, Waterford Bridge and Waterford Cemetery. The parade is sponsored by the American Legion Post 389. The speaker will be Washington County Commissioner James Booth. Post 389 will host a breakfast following the parade and ceremonies.

* In Marietta, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 will again sponsor the early morning parade from Harmar Elementary School to Harmar Cemetery with lineup at 7:30 a.m., the parade will start at 8 a.m.

American Legion Post 64 will conduct the annual downtown Marietta parade. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. on Wooster Street and the parade begins at 10 a.m. following Wooster Street and Fifth Street with a “pass and review” at Mound Cemetery. It will conclude on Putnam Street Bridge for a Memorial Day Ceremony with the Marietta Noon Lions and the Bridge of Heroes Dedication.

A project of Marietta Noon Lions, Bridge of Heroes seeks to honor the community’s military service members and veterans. During the weeks of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day, the Putnam Street Bridge will be lined with more than 100 flags dedicated to the brave men and women who have served the country.

Following the parades, there will be lunch served at the American Legion and VFW posts in Marietta.

* In Parkersburg, American Legion Post 15 will begin its day with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at the post headquarters at 2505 Ohio Ave. in the traffic circle.

A full Memorial Day service organized by Post 15 will follow at 10 a.m. Monday at City Park at the veterans plaza next to the pond. There will be posting of the colors, speakers, “Taps,” a rifle salute and the laying of a wreath. The names of area veterans who have died since the last Memorial Day will be read.

* In Williamstown, American Legion Post 159 will be gathering at Tomlinson Park at 9 a.m. Monday for the annual parade. The parade will depart at 9:30 a.m. to the Riverview Cemetery on Waverly Road where the community will honor the deceased veterans by laying of the wreath by the Ladies Auxiliary and a rifle salute by the Color Guard along with “Taps.” Mayor Paul Jordan will be the guest speaker. A flag disposal ceremony and lunch will follow at the post.

* In Ripley, the Jackson County Veterans Memorial Day Service will be 11 a.m. Monday on the Jackson County Courthouse lawn. There will be speakers, including Jackson County Commissioner Mike Randolph, a Vietnam veteran, the posting of the colors, the national anthem, a rifle ceremony, wreath-laying and other activities.

Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com




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Memorial Day events

Memorial Day events

Mahoning County

BOARDMAN — The township’s 118th annual Memorial Day remembrance will be May 30. Parade begins 10 a.m. at Boardman Center Intermediate School then proceeds north on state Route 7 to the U.S. Route 224 intersection and then east to Boardman Township Park for the service at 11 a.m. Parade marshal is Dr. Fred Soller, a World War II veteran. Guest speaker is James Koterba, a U.S. Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran. In event of inclement weather, the service will be 10 a.m. at Boardman Center Intermediate School auditorium.

LOWELLVILLE — The Memorial Day program will be 10 a.m. May 30, and includes keynote speakers, the mayor, a rifle squad and a funeral march. Ceremonies begin at the Holy Rosary Cemetery at 2790 Lehigh Lane.

NORTH JACKSON — Memorial Day ceremonies and a parade will be at 8:45 a.m. May 30 at the Vietnam Memorial at the Jackson-Milton football field. A dedication of the new engraving of the Middle East Wars obelisk will take place. The parade begins 9 a.m. from the football field parking lot and proceeds to the cemetery and features the Jackson-Milton Marching Band, Scouting units, local fire departments and civic organizations. Veterans and family members of those currently serving are encouraged to wear something signifying their branch of service.

POLAND — At 9:15 a.m. May 30, the Sons of The American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15 will conduct its annual Four Chaplains ceremony at the War Memorial Building Post 15 home, 35 Cortland Way.

At 10 a.m., the 93rd annual Memorial Day procession will step off from Post 15, and will travel down College Street, turn right on to South Main Street, where a ceremony for those lost at sea will take place on the Main Street Bridge. The procession will include speakers, musicians and veterans. World War II veterans will be the grand marshals of the procession.

Procession will continue on South Main and turn onto Riverside Drive and the historic Riverside Cemetery. The squadron this year is honoring World War II veterans.

POLAND — The Inn at Poland Way’s fourth annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be 2 p.m. May 29. Each veteran resident will be honored, including four World War II veterans. The State Commander of the Sons of The American Legion will be the guest speaker, and the National Vice Commander of the Sons of The American Legion will be a special guest.

The John Reese Duo will provide entertainment following the ceremony.

Trumbull

County

GIRARD — The Girard Veterans Council will host a Memorial Day service 11 a.m. May 30 at the Girard City Cemetery, and include placement of the wreath and a rifle salute. Short bios of deceased local World War I veterans and reading of the Gettysburg Address will be given by Girard High School students.

Send an item for the Memorial Day listings, fax 330-841-1717 or email society@tribtoday.com.



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Late May events in the Loveland area: music, Memorial Day and more

Late May events in the Loveland area: music, Memorial Day and more

Concerts, Memorial Day observances and more will fill the calendar in the Loveland area through the end of May.

Limp Bizkit

American rock band Limp Bizkit will bring its  “Still Sucks Tour.” to the Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland, at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26.

The Grammy-nominated band has sold 40 million records worldwide, and has been led, since its inception, by front man Fred Durst.  The band includes original members: Durst — vocals; John Otto — drums; Sam Rivers — bass and backing vocals; Wes Borland — guitars and backing vocals; DJ Lethal — turntables, sampling and programming.

The AEG Presents concert also will feature special guests Yung Gravy, Dying Wish and Wargasm UK.

Tickets are $59.95-$99.95, available at  budweisereventscenter.com and at the Budweiser Events Center box office.

Nate Bargatze

Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze will perform at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland on Saturday, Oct. 8, on his Raincheck tour.

The Tennessee performer’s comedy is both clean and relatable, and he has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Conan and had his own Comedy Central Presents show in 2011.

He also teamed up with All Things Comedy to release his weekly podcast, “Nateland,” which tackles the meaningless issues that we face day-to-day to give listeners a mental break from fighting the good fight. New episodes release every Wednesday.

Tickets will start at $43.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 20, online at budweisereventscenter.com or in person at the Budweiser Events Center.

Memorial Day Block Party

Calvary Derby Hill will host its annual Memorial Day community block party at 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Derby Hill Park, 2730 Courtney Drive, Loveland, with free food, games, a bounce house and an obstacle course. Big-Time Music will perform live music.

The church will provide hot dogs and hamburgers; attendees are encouraged but not required to bring a favorite side dish or dessert.

Admission is free.

For details, contact Dave, derbyhilloffice@thecalvary.org.

Oil and Gas Forum

Our Community Values will host a Zoom forum called “Adverse Health Effects From Oil and Gas Extraction” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26.

Two local doctors will present data to help listeners understand the health risks associated with oil and gas extraction.

To participate, visit shorturl.at/cjqBZ or go to Our Community Values Facebook page for the link.

Spring Birding

Heart-J Center will offer a Spring Birding program at 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 28, at Sylvan Dale Ranch, 2939 N. County Road 31D, Loveland.

Join local birding experts to learn the ins and outs of Colorado birding.

Cost is $10. Register at conta.cc/3Mv1Chc.

Field of Honor

The second annual Field of Honor will take place at 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 27-29, and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Spring Canyon Park, 2626 Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins.

A display of 500 flags will honor military, community and personal heroes.

For details, contact the Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary Club at 970-217-8589 or fcbreakfastrotary@gmail.com or visit bit.ly/3sKmE3v.

Veterans Ceremony

A ceremony will honor World War II veterans at noon Sunday, May 29, at the Veterans Plaza at Spring Canyon Park, 2626 Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins.

Pre-ceremony events will begin at 10 a.m. and include displays, booths, re-enactors, vintage vehicles, a display of 40-plus remote control model airplanes and a display of 500 flags.

The ceremony will include presentation of colors, Taps, missing man table, internment of soils in the Victory Garden, a World War II guest speaker and a flyover.

All World War II veterans will be seated on the stage. Any family or friend of a World War II veteran who has died is welcome to bring a picture of their veteran to hold and be honored.

For details, contact Brad Hoopes at 970-631-2027 or email brad.hoopes@rememberandhonor.com.

‘Cinderella’

Contemporary Dance Academy will present “Cinderella” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins.

The  fairy tale story of Cinderella will be told through dance.

Tickets are $15-$20.

In-person and livestream options are available.

For details, call 970-221-6730 or visit lctix.com.

Veterans for Peace

The Northern Colorado Chapter of Veterans for Peace will hold an event at 2-4 p.m. Monday, May 30, in Old Town Square in downtown Fort Collins, by the clamshell/stage.

Veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan will give short speeches and readings of select quotes, and a bell will commemorate the solemn nature of the day at the end of talks.

For details, visit www.vfai.org.

Colorado Run

The 43rd annual Colorado Run will take place Monday, May 30, at Spring Canyon Park, 2626 Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins.

The race includes a Totally Tough 10K Run/Walk/Ruck starting at 8 a.m. and a Flat and Fast 5K Run/Walk starting at 8:15 a.m.

The 10K course runs along the Horsetooth Reservoir and the 5K stays at Spring Canyon Park.

Cost is $40-$55.

Register at bit.ly/3wBkh4r.

Twilight Garden Series

Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County, the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department of Colorado State University and the Gardens on Spring Creek will offer the Twilight Garden Series.

The series includes four evenings of lectures by horticulture experts from the community, held outdoors, rain or shine, with refreshments and door prizes. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the program beginning promptly at 6 p.m.

The first lecture will be on Spring Gardens on Tuesday, May 31, at The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins. Alison O’Connor, Colorado State University Extension ,and Amy Lentz, Boulder County Extension, will discuss bulbs; master gardener Jon Weiss will discuss protecting your plants from the elements; and Beverly Shaw with Plant Select will discuss perennials.

The Summer Gardens lecture will be held Tuesday, June 21, at the Colorado State University Annual Flower Trial Garden, 1401 Remington St., Fort Collins. Tony Koski, Colorado State University, will talk about turf; Andrea Vanderbilt, Teach Me to Grow, will talk about vegetable pests and problems; and Jim Klett and Sarah Mendus of Colorado State University will talk about the latest and greatest perennials.

A second Summer Gardens lecture will be held Tuesday, July 19, at the Colorado State University Annual Flower Trial Garden, 1401 Remington St. Jim Klett of Colorado State University and Alison O’Connor of Colorado State University Extension will discuss shade trees; master gardener Jon Weiss will discuss patio vegetable gardens; and Shannon Mason, Colorado State University, will discuss using perennials for cut flowers.

The last lecture, on Fall Gardens, will be Tuesday, Aug. 23, at The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave. Amy Lentz of Boulder County Extension will talk about trending houseplants; Mary Miller of Gardens on Spring Creek will discuss celebrating vegetable diversity; and Bryan Fischer of Gardens on Spring Creek will discuss underused perennials.

Attend each event for $10. Preregistration is encouraged.

For details or to register, visit fcgov.com/gardens/twilight-garden-series.

Memorial Day Ceremony

In honor and remembrance of military personnel laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery and elsewhere, American Legion Post 109 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m., Monday, May 30, weather permitting.

The ceremony is a free public event and the cemetery is located on the southwest corner of Colo. 392 and Colo. 257, Windsor.

The ceremony will include comments and the placement of the memorial wreath by the American Legion, remarks from Mayor Paul Rennemeyer, and participation from local Windsor Boy Scouts.

American Legion Post 109, 624 Ash St., Windsor, is open to the public and will host a brunch following the ceremony, with ham, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and coffee for $5 per person, free for veterans and children under 5.

For details, visit facebook.com/AmericanLegionWindsor109.

Bike Night

The Windsor Police Department and Optimist Club of Windsor will host Bike Night at 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at Boardwalk Park, 100 N. Fifth St., Windsor.

The free community event focused on bicycle safety features a youth biking obstacle course, safety stations and giveaways on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All of the activities take place at the Windsor Lake parking lot located off of Birch Street.

For details, visit windsorpd.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=51.

Friday Fests

Weekly Friday Fests start May 27 at Ninth Street Plaza, 802 Ninth St., Greeley.

“Go-cup” service starts at 6 p.m. and live music usually begins around 6:30 p.m.
Attendees can bring lawn chairs and food in, but cannot bring in alcoholic beverages.

The lineup will feature:

  • May 27: Cordovas.
  • June 3: Greeley Blues Party Band opening and Greeley Blues Jam Kickoff with Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal.
  • June 10: Stampede Kickoff with Jesse Cornett & The Revolvers.
  • June 17: My Blue Sky.
  • June 24: The Custom Shop Band.
  • July 1: 101st Army Hot 7 jazz and rock bands.
  • July 8: Chicano Heat.
  • July 15: Musketeer Gripweed.
  • July 22: Hazel Miller and The Collective.
  • July 29: Arts Picnic Kickoff with Funkiphino.
  • Aug. 5: Stone Beat Invasion.
  • Aug. 12: Pamlico Sound.
  • Aug. 19: Dave Beegle and the Jurrasicasters.
  • Aug. 26: Kelsey Jo and the Wildcards.
  • Sept. 2: Block Party & UNC Celebration Night.
  • Sept. 9: Chain Station.
  • Sept. 16 Mexican Independence Day.

Admission is free.

For details, call 970-356-6775 or visit greeleydowntown.com/special-events/friday-fest.

Sister Hazel

Sister Hazel will perform at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 27-28, at the Stanley Concert Hall, 333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park.

The band has hits in both adult alternative and country music genres.

Tickets are $35.

For details, visit  bit.ly/3FoiYcX.

Art Market

The 22nd annual Art Market will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, May 30, in Bond Park in downtown Estes Park.

Artists from Colorado and surrounding states will display a variety of fine arts and crafts, including functional pottery, paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, art glass, wood crafts, fiber art, metal crafts and more.

The Art Market is wheelchair accessible and admission is free.

The show is presented by The Art Center of Estes Park.

For details, call 970-586-5882 or visit artcenterofestes.com.

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Memorial Day events happening in the Upstate

Memorial Day events happening in the Upstate

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember those who fought and died for us during a war.

In honor of those, there are a lot of events happening across the Upstate as people tell their stories and honor their memories.

SOUTH CAROLINA
  • Palmetto Heroes Hike – This is a 12.5 or 6-mile hike to honor fallen service members and first responders. The hike is happening in Greenville starting at 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. at 4 McGee Street with the hike ending at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena with an after-party on Saturday, May 28. To register for the event click here.
  • Run on a Runway – Participants will run down the Greenville Downtown Airport runway for a unique running experience and flat 5K race. The event will happen on Saturday, May 28, at starts at 7:30 a.m. for the ceremony and the running begins at 8 a.m. To register for this event click here.
  • GTC Freedom Flyer 2 Miler –This race will start at the soccer field and runners will head right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail toward downtown. Veterans, active duty military, police, fire, and first responders are admitted for free. To register for the race, click here.

Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved.

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Ottawa resident takes issue with media portrayal of events at War Memorial

Ottawa resident takes issue with media portrayal of events at War Memorial

OTTAWA — Police in Windsor, Ont., were locked in an apparent standoff with protesters clogging a key trade artery between the United States and Canada on Saturday, even as demonstrations against COVID-19 public health measures continued in Ottawa and other cities across the country.

Officers with the Windsor Police Service, the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and others began moving in on protesters near the Ambassador Bridge around mid-morning after a court-ordered deadline for clearing the site passed — and was largely ignored — on Friday evening.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, a line of police officers slowly advanced on the protesters who had gathered at an intersection at the foot of the bridge, forcing the demonstrators farther away from the site.

The officers were supported by two RCMP armoured vehicles and several police cruisers in a show of force that the roughly 200 protesters greeted with renditions of “O Canada” before falling back.

Yet police soon halted their advance before standing nose to nose with the demonstrators, whose ranks grew as hundreds more arrived throughout the afternoon. The resulting impasse continued to block traffic from crossing the bridge.

By late afternoon, hundreds of protesters continued to occupy a stretch of road near the bridge, with efforts to clear the area having ground to a standstill.

Windsor resident Wesley Dippoliti, who chose to get vaccinated but believes others should be able to choose not to without fear of consequences, said he’s willing to stay “as long as it takes.”

“The way I see it, in the past, people have fought wars and died for their freedoms, freedoms of their people and the things they believe in,” he said. “And if coming out here and fighting for my freedoms means simply standing around and having a coffee and having these conversations, then that’s all that matters.”

Jason Bellaire, deputy chief of operations for the Windsor Police Service, said officers were doing what they could, in a “reasonable way,” to try and resolve the situation. Police were trying to negotiate with the demonstrators to protect the safety of all involved, he added.

The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit has stemmed the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars in cross border trade, prompting entreaties from U.S. President Joe Biden and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer for Canadian officials to reopen the crossing.

The blockade of Canada’s busiest border crossing followed nearly two weeks of protests that first started in Ottawa but have since spread to other cities and ports of entry here and around the world.

The Canada Border Services Agency announced Saturday that services at the border crossing at Coutts, Alta., have been temporarily suspended after two weeks of protests at the normally busy port.

While the agency was directing commercial traffic to other crossings North Portal and Regway in Saskatchewan, and Rooseville and Kingsgate in British Columbia, it recommended travellers continue to check for updates “due to evolving circumstances.”

Federal, provincial and municipal politicians of all stripes are calling for an end to the blockades, whose original stated aim was to protest vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers.

The demonstrations have since evolved into a catch-all movement opposed to all public health restrictions and sometimes calling for the unlawful overthrow of democratically elected governments.

While the protests have disrupted businesses and trade in different parts of the country, concerns have also been raised about the presence of far-right extremists and hate groups using the demonstration to advance their ideological agendas.

The police action in Windsor is arguably the strongest law enforcement response to the mass protests to date, and came as demonstrators continued to cause disruptions in other parts of Canada.

Hundreds of people and dozens of trucks remained dug in along Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill and around downtown Ottawa, where many have been parked since the end of January.

The mood on the streets resembled a carnival or Canada Day celebration as hundreds of people, including some families with children, streamed toward the seat of Canada’s democracy, many carrying Canadian flags.

Yet amid the revelry was an uneasy vibe.

Mingled amid the Maple Leafs were other flags and placards, many bearing vulgar words and messages attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other political leaders.

Protesters tore down a fence around the National War Memorial, which had been set up after some participants stood and danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the base of the memorial during the first weekend of demonstrations.

Police stood by and watched as the fence was removed and protesters, including some veterans, started to gather around the monument dedicated to Canada’s war dead. It wasn’t immediately clear where the fence had gone.

“Completely unacceptable,” Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay tweeted in response. “Fences were put up to prevent the flagrant desecration and disrespect of our sacred monuments. This behaviour is disappointing and I’m calling on protesters to respect our monuments.”

Police were also seen parked one block away from Parliament, where demonstrators had taken over a parking lot and were blasting music while passersby danced. The officers did not respond when trucks began honking their horns, in contravention of a court order.

Demonstrators were also seen filling jerry cans from a fuel tank in the back of a large pick-up truck only a couple of blocks away from Parliament and within eyesight of several other police officers.

The Ottawa Police Service, which has been criticized for not taking a harder line with the protesters, reported some demonstrators “exhibited aggressive behaviour” by refusing to follow directions and even overwhelming officers.

“All available officers were deployed last night,” the force said in a statement.

“We have a plan to end this unlawful occupation and await the necessary reinforcements to do so.”

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said Friday the biggest limitation on his force’s ability to end the crisis is a lack of officers, adding he’d received no response to his request for 1,800 personnel from the RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police.

Trudeau previously said the RCMP and OPP had reviewed the request, adding “what is needed is being provided to be able to move through this in a peaceful, responsible way.”

Trudeau has refused to speculate on when the current crisis might end, and antigovernment protesters railing against COVID-19 measures seemed unfazed by the latest efforts to rein them in.

Jurisdictional battles and partisan tensions also appeared to be hindering collaboration on resolving the disruptions.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency Friday that will allow his cabinet to impose $100,000 fines and up to one year in jail as punishments against people who continue to illegally block roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.

More demonstrations were underway or being planned this weekend in other parts of the country, with blockades continuing at the border crossings in Alberta and Manitoba and another planned in Saskatchewan.

Protesters gathered in Edmonton continued honking their horns in violation of a court injunction obtained by the city to address the noise.

Demonstrator Lois Hyatt said she felt the noise was a fair price to pay in order to “get our freedoms back.”

“Honk away!” she said over the noise of horns.

Meanwhile, hundreds assembled outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto, where crowd members of all ages waved Canadian flags and cheered as a speaker declared the event to be about freedom.

Diane Elms, a homeopath from Hagersville, Ont., was on hand with her grandchildren. She said she felt it was important to show them the importance of fighting for their rights to choose whether or not to get a vaccine and argued governments should not require inoculations.

“Since this has all started even common sense has not prevailed in this country anymore,” the 62-year-old said. “We have the right to stand up and say this is wrong.”

In Quebec, thousands gathered at one of Montreal’s largest parks on Saturday in solidarity with other convoys.

Among them was the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, Maxime Bernier.

“The wind is turning around,” he told the crowd. “We don’t want a reopening plan, we want it to be over now, today.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2022.

— with files from Noushin Ziafati in Windsor, Ont., Erika Ibrahim in Ottawa, Virginie Ann in Montreal, Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton and Ross Marowits in Toronto

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press