The count of truckers coming from the stretch from Golden to Calgary was more than 1,000 vehicles long, spanning approximately 50 km..Hundreds of Calgarians gathered Sunday night to welcome and show support for the Trucker Freedom Convoy 2022 at the south Calgary Flying J truck stop..Another line from Edmonton came to Calgary last night to join the Vancouver group on the cross-country journey..Participants were welcomed with smiling faces, music,.free food including hot chili and snacks, dozens of signs, and free stickers..Supporters are opening doors to their homes, providing free showers and lodging to those on the road..“We wouldn’t survive, life as we know it wouldn’t exist without our truckers. Let’s come back together and stop dividing each other with opinions and hate. Let’s give each other respect,”.said James Bauder, Canada Unity organizer.. Truck4Calgary truck rally. Photo by Ewa Sudyk, Western Standard .“We are showcasing the power and the purity and the love when Canadians choose to come together in the spirit of unity..“The international community is also standing together in solidarity and unity..“Canada I know you’re watching, USA I know you’re watching, Australia, I know you’re watching, and the world I know you’re watching.”.American truckers are also joining the Canadian convoy in support, about 150 semi’s from the US joined in Alberta..Part of the protest was the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), a trailer that protestors were signing in addition to the online campaign..The MOU calls on the highest authorities in the federal government to sign an order to stop the protest and work cooperatively with the organizers to absolve discriminatory vaccination-based mandates placed on Canadians..The MOU calls for true spirited partnership between parties to move Canada towards demonstrating fair practice according to the Canadian Constitution, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Privacy Act.. Truck-1Truck rally. Photo by Eva Sudyk .“This movement is about uniting Canada, and in doing so all the mandates are gone,” said Bauder..“Lets get these businesses back up and running again, lets get your jobs up and running again. Then we are going to humbly ask ourselves how to start the healing process..“This is about how many families and friendships over the past two years have been ripped apart because we chose to turn off unity within each other. We own that, not our governments. It’s time to start a new journey with each other first.”.“Somebody had to stand up. We are doing this for everyone,” a driver told the Western Standard..Ewa Sudyk is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.esudyk@westernstandardonline.com
