Truck convoy enroute to Ottawa stops overnight in Kingston
A convoy of trucks and passenger vehicles heading to the nation’s capital to protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandate departed from the Kingston area on Friday morning after stopping overnight.
On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, Kingston Police and OPP were present at the Gardiners Road offramp to direct those from the convoy who chose to stay overnight in the city. From approximately 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., tractor-trailers, passenger vehicles, and RVs left Highway 401 at the Gardiners Road offramp, and were directed south into the city. Police closed a section of Highway 38/Gardiners Road, from Cataraqui Woods Drive to McIvor Road, off and on throughout the evening.
The convoy was directed towards parking lots east of Gardiners Road and on roadways that included Centennial Drive, Fortune Crescent, Venture Drive and Resource Road. Police fully reopened the affected roadways by about 6 p.m., after the majority of the convoy participants had been situated in their overnight locations. By about 9 p.m., about 300 transports and support vehicles had arrived, according to Kingston Police, with an estimated 400-600 additional vehicles still to arrive or opting to stop overnight in Belleville or Napanee.
Approximately 200 supporters gathered on the margins of Gardiners Rd and at overpasses on the 401 to greet the convoy participants.
As of 9:35 a.m. this morning, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, Kingston Police reported on social media that all roadways had been reopened, and all trucks and passenger vehicles had departed onto Highway 401 eastbound.
Police also released their count of vehicles that departed the city this morning:
- 17 full tractor trailers
- 104 tractors w no trailers
- 424 passenger vehicles
- 6 RVs
As the vehicles began to roll towards the capital after a mild night without any issues, a collision occurred at Highway 15 and Highway 401. Though the collision appeared to be minor in nature, the incident added to the already congested roadways accessing the highways. Minor injuries were reported and Highway 401 was briefly down to two lanes just before Highway 15.
Along with the COVID 19 pandemic, we are experiencing a parallel pandemic of stupidity, selfishness, and sadly, seemingly endless unnecessary deaths due to the lack of social responsibility of many citizens. Where does the accountability for these last two years lie?
Emotional reaction resulting in hate signs and lack of social responsibility basically treading on the values of others is what the truckers parade is about.
All this attention on individuals who do not wish to acknowledge and understand another point of view , just wish to party, propagate degrading behaviour in the name of freedom means there is more to do with stating the value of recognizing the value of making oneself knowledgeable of supporting each other and creating a country that supports unity for the good of all, respecting the hard work the hospital workers have done their best for this country is the way forward.