More than 1,000 protesters driving through Halifax for trucker convoy rally

By Chris Stoodley

Posted Feb 6, 2022 07:32:00 PM.

More than 1,000 people drove through Halifax on Sunday afternoon in a “slow-rolling” trucker convoy protest to support the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa.

Protesters in vehicles — many decorated with Canada and Nova Scotia flags as well as handmade signs — began gathering at the Pier 21 parking lot around 1 p.m. on Feb. 6.

Around then, Halifax Regional Police had started blocking road access, including on Hollis Street, which was the route many protesters were taking to get to Pier 21.

“Our officers are attempting to clear the affected areas,” HRP said in a news release. “We ask the public to remain away from the area to prevent further disruption to the flow of traffic.”

Traffic backed up along Hollis as a result pic.twitter.com/Jq9yqvPhPv

— Dan Ahlstrand (@danahlstrand) February 6, 2022

Counter-protesters stopped the rally for a few minutes, but convoy protesters eventually made their way north up Lower Water Street toward Barrington Street.

Drivers started blaring their horns in an attempt to “wake up the city,” a message the protest organizer — Freedom Nova Scotia — wants to share through the rally.

The rally made its way through Halifax's north end and then started heading south on Robie Street to pass by CTV News' office. The organizer's Facebook event is titled the CTV Halifax Convoy.

20220206 - Halifax Convoy 2 — Protesters started making their way down Robie Street just before 2:30 p.m. (Chris Stoodley/CityNews Halifax)

Protest organizers had planned for the event to last until 3 p.m., where drivers were to head down Quinpool Road, up Highway 102 and throughout Bayers Lake. Organizers wanted to do the entire loop at least twice.

While the protest was loud, organizers asked protesters to obey all traffic rules, use their four-way flashers and allow other vehicles to merge in and out of the convoy when necessary.

The demonstration was organized to support those who have been protesting in Ottawa since the end of January, where protesters in Ontario have been calling on the government to end COVID-19 vaccine mandates for a second weekend.

Many counter-protesters and residents in Ottawa have criticized the government and police for their inaction on the demonstrations, which have turned violent and forced many services and businesses to temporarily close.