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Protesters march through Grande Prairie to call for an end of COVID-19 restrictions (photo by Liam Verster)
By Liam Verster
Demonstrators protest COVID-19 restricti

Protesters gather in Grande Prairie to rally against COVID-19 restrictions

Nov 28, 2020 | 6:25 PM

Approximately 130 people gathered for a march through downtown Grande Prairie on Saturday to call for an end to the COVID-19 public health measures.
The protesters had a range of grievances which include the mandatory mask policies; lockdowns; the effects on the economy; added strain on people’s mental health; having seniors essentially locked up; and how the measures are trampling on the rights and freedoms of individuals.
Although they did not wish to provide their full names for this story, some protesters did speak with Everything GP to state their issues with the current measures.
Terry, one of the protesters at the rally, says these lockdowns are having a big impact on the economy.
“What’s happening with this lockdown is we need people to go to work. I mean there’s hardly enough jobs in Alberta as it is, and now you’re killing all the little companies, the little businesses because they can’t survive,” says Terry. “This is not a remedy for what’s going on here. Not at all.”
Terry was one of many to speak out against mandatory mask bylaws, claiming that masks are less effective than they are being marketed as.
“[Occupational Health and Safety] should be out here patrolling and making all these employers take their employees masks off,” says Terry. “It’s dangerous, and no one’s listening, it’s ridiculous.”
Some of the protestors also claim wearing masks put people at risk of developing other illnesses that could be more severe than the novel coronavirus. Others added that they feel their breathing to be restricted when wearing a mask, and should be allowed to shop and go about life as usual without wearing one.
Terry is joined by Lisa, another protester, as one of many who states that the government isn’t giving all the important information as to who is at risk of dying from COVID-19, and that many of the deaths shouldn’t be counted because those people had underlying conditions.
“As of November 15 there was under 11,000 (COVID-19) deaths in Canada, and 166 of those are people without comorbidities,” says Lisa. “The rest are all seniors, and [their age range] is from the 70s to 100s. They’re dying of old age, they’re ready to go, they don’t want to even live in these circumstances. They don’t want to lay there and die alone.”
A lot of the other protesters, including two women who weren’t willing to share their names, claimed lockdowns are disproportionately affecting seniors in long term care. They claim those individuals are essentially locked away like prisoners, and that it’s not fair they shouldn’t be allowed to visit with their family. Others believe that the effort being put into stopping the spread of the virus could be better used for taking care of the homeless, the mentally ill, and those with addictions.
A few of the protestors, including Christian and Delrae, offered some ideas for how to move forward. They want governments to stop getting their recommendations from the current doctors, scientists and other sources, and instead open up conversations with those who are arguing against the current measures.
“I want to see more discussion about what people have to say,” says Christian. “We’re being force-fed one side of the story, and I think we have to have an open discussion so that people’s voices can be heard.”
“There’s doctors from the World Doctors Alliance in the UK, and there’s doctors and scientists, 50,000 of them, who have signed on to the Great Barrington Declaration, and they’re all speaking out” adds Delrae. “I think instead of following the narrative of the doctors and scientists that we have in power right now, we need to be collectively getting information from everybody.”
Others argued that the restrictions limiting social interactions are unfair, while a few claim this is part of a plan by the World Health Organization to reset the global economy and combine every country under “one communist regime”.
The protesters are hoping to show government the restrictions aren’t necessary and are doing more harm than good, and to have the restrictions lifted so life can return to normal.
The peaceful protest began at 12 noon, and lasted until about 2 p.m.
(Photos by Liam Verster)
The protesters first gathered at City Hall, before walking through the downtown core
After marching up 100 Ave, the protesters turned onto 101 Street
The march turned down 101 Ave, and onto 100 Street
After walking a few blocks, the protesters crossed the street and marched back tot he downtown core
The protesters marched through downtown once more and returned to 100 Street, where they stood on both sides of the road to hold up their signs and voice their concerns
Some chose not to march, but still show their support for the protest
The RCMP made one brief stop to speak with protesters and ensure they stay peaceful
The protest lasted just under two hours, with everyone leaving before 2 p.m.
by Liam Verster