The full route of the Rolling Thunder convoy was released by Ottawa police on Thursday, as a group called Community Solidarity Ottawa is planning to host an “Unwelcoming Party” for the bikers..According to the route, on Saturday 500 to 1,000 motorcycles will leave St. Laurent Shopping Centre around 10:45 a.m., drive up Vanier Parkway, head west on Rideau Street towards the downtown, and drive south on Nicholas Street before leaving via Highway 417..The route is outside the Vehicle Exclusion Zone that will be set up by Ottawa police. Interim Chief Steve Bell told reporters the entire route has been designated as a no-stopping zone.. Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-4.06.36-PM-1Courtesy of Ottawa Police Service .Several events associated with the Rolling Thunder convoy are planned from Friday to Sunday, including a rally and march scheduled for Parliament Hill on Friday at 6 p.m. But Bell said the weekend won’t be a repeat of the Freedom Convoy protest..“There is a community expectation that we do handle this differently, that we are more responsive and more proactive in making sure that it doesn’t become elongated. We’re doing that,” Bell told CTV News Thursday..Also on Thursday, the Ottawa Police Services Board approved the appointment of up to 831 RCMP employees who could be made available as reinforcements during the biker rally..“This is one of the ‘new and improved’ ways we’re looking at approaching these demonstrations, these events, to be able to make sure that we have the resources properly sworn in ahead of time so that we’re not in a reactive response if something does need to be actioned as we move through the weekend,” Bell said..The Rolling Thunder convoy will have some unwelcome company this weekend. A group called Community Solidarity Ottawa plans to host an “Unwelcoming Party” for the 500 to 1000 people estimated to arrive in Ottawa on Friday..“We have to do something to make sure that they feel unwelcome,” said Brian Latour, a CSO organizer. “We’re wanting to show our opposition to the convoy and also to build those connections so we can build a stronger, more resilient community, because I think these people have plans to keep coming back,” he said..CSO claims to be a coalition of local labour unions, community organizations and residents that is against “hateful, far-right, fascist and white-supremacist movements.” The group was created in opposition to the Freedom Convoy protest back in February..In a press release, CSO stated its goal with the event is to “greet” Rolling Thunder supporters and “provide a point of convergence for community opposition to Convoy 2.0.” .While most details about the CSO event are still unknown, Latour said the “Unwelcoming Party” will likely be a counter-protest focused on bringing the Ottawa community together. The event will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday at Strathcona Park..The CSO did not respond to the Western Standard‘s request for a comment..Matthew Horwood is the Parliamentary Bureau Chief of the Western Standard.mhorwood@westernstandard.news.Twitter.com/@Matt_HorwoodWS
