Note: Some of the sources in this article have requested to remain anonymous. CHUO has omitted their names.
The second week of protests has heightened tensions between the city’s residents and demonstrators demanding an end to vaccine mandates.
The “Freedom Convoy” was joined over the weekend by thousands of protesters for the second week in a row as Ottawa continues to be occupied by hundreds of heavy trucks, and people on both sides of the conflict grow angrier.
CHUO was present in the downtown core over the weekend to speak with demonstrators.
Tracy Bryant, who told CHUO she was in Ottawa to represent a group from BC called Take Action Kamloops, says she was coerced into taking the vaccine, which has had a negative affect on her health.
“When I got my second vaccine, it affected my eyesight, and I now have blurry vision,” says Bryant. “I couldn't move my arm for three days, and my face was all messed up. That went away, thank God, but my eyesight…never did.”
Bryant says she went to see a doctor about her symptoms, but was told the vaccine hadn’t caused the negative side-effects.
“He's like, ‘Oh, no, no, it's from something else,’” says Bryant. “I'm like, ‘No, it's not.’ It happened three days after my vaccine.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says that rare side-effects from mRNA vaccines, including approved COVID-19 vaccines, may include facial paralysis or an allergic reaction. Although vision loss isn’t listed as a possible side-effect of the vaccine, PHAC says it continues to monitor newly reported side-effects.
The Ottawa Police Service reported on Sunday that since the protests began, they have received over 650 calls for service relating to the demonstration, and are investigating over 97 criminal offences, 11 of which were hate crimes. The OPS’ hate-motivated crime hotline has also received over 200 calls.
Bryant says she, like “the majority of protestors,” doesn’t support the acts of hatred carried out by members of the convoy.
“It's unbelievable, saying that [we’re] white supremacists and racist—that's not what's going on here,” says Bryant. “Not at all. I'm just a single mom and came up here to support this convoy and to help end these mandates.”
The Ottawa Police reported roughly 200 anti-convoy counter protesters were in the downtown core on Saturday. Anti-convoy groups have popped up on social
Demonstrators set up a makeshift stage at the intersection of Bank and Wellington, where they are hosting performances from members of the convoy. Photo by Meara Belanger
media, such as Facebook group “Stop the Ottawa Occupation 2022” which now has over 2,300 members.
A group on Instagram, called Ottawa Convoy Report, has committed to documenting incidents of violence, harassment, aggression, and hate crimes carried out by demonstrators.
Countless residents, along with city councillors, the mayor, and police chief Peter Sloly, have condemned the demonstrators. Others, including residents and members of the police service, have joined the demonstrations, fuelling increasing tensions between factions.
One demonstrator, who came from Prince Edward Island, told CHUO that he isn’t anti-vaccine—just anti-mandate.
“My kids aren't getting the vaccine,” he says.“They can later on in life. I'm not anti-vax. I'm not against it all, if you want to get one fine.”
The man says he is trying to broadcast as much as possible, to counter the negative attention the protest has received from local media and politicians. He says he has a message for frustrated residents, who want to see the demonstrations end.
“We're here for them as well,” he says.“We're not against them. We respect their decision. We're not here to disturb them at all.”
The Ottawa Police say they have given Special Constable status to 257 RCMP officers who have joined mitigation efforts. They say they have deployed “negotiators” who have managed to reach a compromise with truckers regarding noise, specifically honking.
According to a press release from the Freedom Convoy themselves, a cessation of honking occurred from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, “out of respect for the Lord’s Day.”
“Out of respect for the Lord's Day, for members of our military who have sacrificed and who continue to sacrifice so much for our freedom, for the men and women in blue who are doing such a superb job protecting us, and as a gesture of goodwill, members of our Convoy will desist from the blowing of Horns tomorrow, Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ottawa time."
Some protestors, including Bryant, also told CHUO that convoy organizers had asked all vehicles to cease honking overnight so residents could sleep, although live coverage of the protest from Saturday night reveals otherwise.
Listen to the CHUO story below: