Protests planned this weekend in North Bay to mark the anniversary of the ‘Freedom Convoy’
Northern supporters of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ mark the anniversary of last winter's demonstrations across Canada by holding a gathering of their own this weekend in North Bay.
Protestors told CTV News that they feel covid-related mandates continue to cause hardship and infringe on the rights and freedoms of Canadians.
The gathering began Saturday at about 11:00 a.m. Saturday with a ‘slow roll’ convoy departing from the Walmart parking headed to the city’s waterfront downtown.
Around 30 vehicles and 100 people were seen taking part in Saturday's slow roll convoy.
At the waterfront, the event is set to feature a variety of music and guest speakers along with a barbecue which kicked-off at noon.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Many similar protests and convoys have also taken place in North Bay and other northern Ontario cities the last two years.
"We're here today to protests the mandates still,” said Kris Primeau, one of the protestors in attendance Saturday.
“To make sure everyone gets their rights and freedoms and gets their life back. People are mandated to see their loved ones. Loved ones are still dying alone in hospitals, so this is why we're here."
Police in Ottawa are also preparing for the return of ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters looking to mark the anniversary.
Both the Ontario Provincial Police and members of the North Bay Police Service were on-hand to patrol the event.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.