Truck convoy arrives in Sault Ste. Marie
After weather-related road closures slowed its trek along Highway 17, half of the "Trans-Canada Freedom Convoy" made its way into Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday night.
Snow squalls and high winds forced the closure of Highway 17 between White River and Batchawana. Organizers decided to split the convoy in two at Nipigon, with half turning onto Highway 11 toward Cochrane, while the other half continued to the Sault.
Highway 17 eventually reopened and crowds lined Great Northern Road as the convoy made its way into town.
Trans-Canada Freedom Convoy rolls into Sault Ste. Marie Thursday night. Jan. 27/22 (Mike McDonald/CTV Northern Ontario)
"I think it's really important that we support the truckers," said one supporter.
"It's not part of the anti-vax movement or the pro-vaccination. I'm here because I'm supporting a group of people who I think have really held this country together over the past two years and have had very little recognition for it. So I'm here to support the truck divers for that."
The convoy is expected to depart Sault Ste. Marie early Friday morning on its way to Ottawa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police inaction moves to centre of Uvalde shooting probe
The actions -- or more notably, the inaction -- of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers has become the centre of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Putin warns against continued arming of Ukraine; Kremlin claims another city captured
As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defence.
Truth tracker: Analyzing the World Economic Forum 'Great Reset' conspiracy theory
The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos was met with justifiable criticisms and unfounded conspiracy theories.
Canada to play for gold at men's hockey worlds after victory over Czechia
Canada and Finland won semifinal games Saturday to set up a third straight gold-medal showdown between the teams at the IIHF world hockey championship.
Woman with disabilities approved for medically assisted death relocated thanks to 'inspiring' support
A 31-year-old disabled Toronto woman who was conditionally approved for a medically assisted death after a fruitless bid for safe housing says her life has been 'changed' by an outpouring of support after telling her story.
Calling social conservatives dinosaurs was 'wrong terminology', says Patrick Brown
Federal Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown says calling social conservatives 'dinosaurs' in a book he wrote about his time in Ontario politics was 'the wrong terminology.'
Hydro Ottawa says goal is to restore power to all customers by the end of the weekend
Hydro Ottawa says the goal is to restore power to "the bulk" of homes and businesses by the end of the weekend as crews enter "the last phase" of restoration efforts.
Remote parts of rural eastern Ontario could wait weeks for power restoration
A Hydro One spokesperson says some people living in remote parts of rural eastern Ontario could be waiting weeks to have power restored after last Saturday’s devastating and deadly storm.
B.C. speedboat driver arrested with 650kg of meth 'feared for his family's safety,' he told U.S. investigators
New details are emerging after a 51-year-old Alberta man was arrested aboard a speedboat that U.S. authorities say was carrying 650 kilograms of methamphetamine between Washington state and British Columbia.