St. Paul Freedom Convoy 2022 Winds its way Through Two Hills and Area

St. Paul Freedom Convoy 2022 Winds its way Through Two Hills and Area

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

The Town of Two Hills was the final stop for the St. Paul Freedom Convoy 2022 held on Feb. 12.

Head organizer Carrie Lupul said there were 100 vehicles in the convoy and estimated there were around 200 people who participated in the protest.

Lupul said she wanted the route of the convoy to include the communities that included schools in the St. Paul Education school division. She said the mandates have drastically hurt children and elderly the most.

The protesters want an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures. Lupul said they accomplished what they set out to do. She said it’s time people realize the government is controlling us and not doing what’s right for us.

Lupul said she wanted the route of the convoy to include the communities that included schools in the St. Paul school division which included the communities of Elk Point and Myrnam. She said the mandates have drastically hurt children and elderly the most and must be ended.

Protester Cindy Martin attended the event with her husband. She said she came because she wanted to do her part to end the mandates and have her family back.

Ben Krahn, who owns BKL Custom Welding and Trucking Ltd., lives in the Vegreville area and said he came in support freedom. “I think we’ve had enough of the lockdowns.” He came in support of opening everything up, support of getting rid of the mandates.”

Convoy parked in downtown Two Hills.

(Inspired by Inspire/Submitted Photo)

Gerardo Neufeld said he was here in support of the Freedom Convoy. We want our freedom back. We want the freedom back that our parents, grandparents, great grandparents all fought for. This way we feel more enslaved or like it’s going to get there, so we have to stand up look for a brighter light.

Cornelius Schmitt shared a personal story. Schmitt said his father-in-law died recently and said the cause of death is undetermined because the doctors refused to release his medical records. The family has not yet received his death certificate, but he thinks it will probably list COVID-19 as the cause of death.

Schmitt said he went to hospital due to dehydration and was told by staff they would give him fluids and that he would be released. He was tested for COVID-19 and was admitted. He was put on oxygen and put on other medications, one of which was Remdesivir.

“Doing some research we found Remdesivir is a very dangerous drug and states on the World Health Organization’s website “not to use this medication on your Covid patients. It’s not only ineffective, it’s damaging.”

Schmitt said his father-in-law never had heart issues previously and the drug brought on severe health issues.

“It blew our minds to hear his heart actually stopped for three minutes.” He said Remdesivir also attacks the kidneys and they started to shut down. After that he was put on a ventilator, and became non-responsive.

They, (family members) called constantly asking to see him, but was only granted a visit through video, but it was hard to hear him. They wanted authority to be granted to one of the children so any medication that was to be administered would have to have their approval. That eventually was granted, but five doses of Remdesivir had already been administered, and the family believes by that time the damage had already been done.

Abraham Friesen coordinated the event at the local level. “I wanted to stand up for a long time but didn’t think I’d get the support, but it’s been overwhelming.”

Friesen organized a protest on Feb. 9 adjacent to the Mennonite School in Two Hills. Friesen estimated that between 130 and 140 people came by throughout the day. He, along with a handful of other people cooked and served lunch and supper to raise awareness in the community as well as funds for Freedom Convoy 2022.

He also organized a convoy from Vegreville to Two Hills on Feb. 5, and estimates there were around 200 participants in that event. Friesen said his overall goal has been to bring the community together.

Town of Two Hills Mayor Leonard Ewanishan said demonstrations have been peaceful. He said he didn’t receive any complaints, just a few phone calls from people phoning to enquire as to what was taking place. “You just try and explain that they’re expressing their rights.”

Ewanishan said that as long as they, (protesters) don’t infringe on other peoples’ rights to do business he doesn’t have a problem with demonstrations. He said he wasn’t aware of any instances of that or any reports of damage.

Two Hills RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Robert Daisley said there had been no calls for service during the Feb. 9 protest and that he was on-site a couple of times during the day.