Despite the extreme cold, the convoy created by truckers and other citizens rolled into Ottawa on Friday and Saturday for a culmination of their protest at Parliament Hill.
Ottawa, January 29, 2022 (Photo captured by the Hill Cam via the Government of Canada)
The convoy began as a protest against the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers and evolved into a protest against all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public health restrictions.
By 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the City of Ottawa closed the streets downtown due to the protestors.
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And while the protest remained peaceful, there have been some acts carried out that many Canadians view as unpatriotic.
Confederate flags, political signs, and Canadian flags marked with swastikas have been denounced by many, though they have been seen all along the convoy's route.
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Ottawa's Mayor, Jim Watson, ordered the removal of vehicles parked on the Cenotaph and have city workers remove vandalism from the statue of Terry Fox.
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion issued a statement condemning the actions of protestors who encroached upon the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Saturday.
"This sacred memorial site commemorates those who fought and fell for the very freedoms that allow people in Canada the right to protest peacefully," the statement read. "We are dismayed and saddened by this overt lack of respect."
In a recent statement, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) wanted to remind the public that many of the protestors "have no connection to the trucking industry and have a separate agenda beyond a disagreement over cross border vaccine requirements."
It also urged truckers who are involved in the protest to remain peaceful.
"Please remember this important responsibility you bear today in delivering your message responsibly but also the impact your actions will have on the image of the majority of your colleagues from coast-to-coast who do not share your opinion but share your passion for the industry and country," the statement read.
The CTA also asked that following Saturday's demonstration truckers "leave the City of Ottawa to avoid any issues to the welfare and safety of the citizens of Ottawa."
The CTA voiced its disapproval of the convoy from the beginning of the protest.