Convoy of Albertans make a 'Coutts Loop' in border town to mark 1-year anniversary of blockade
A convoy of Albertans marked the one-year anniversary of the Coutts border blockade in the tiny border town Saturday.
Between 250 and 300 trucks, cars, SUVs and the odd semi met up in Coutts Saturday morning, where they revisited the site of a two-week-long border blockade that became a global news story in early 2022.
The group, including members from several southern Alberta locations including Calgary, Medicine Hat, Claresholm and Lethbridge – planned to make a "Coutts loop" along Highway 4 before gathering in Lethbridge for an afternoon barbecue event with speeches.
"Given the weather, and the roads, we came from the north, they were brutal. Given that, it was an amazing turnout," said Bob Blayone.
That event was a fundraiser to support four men who face a number of criminal charges for actions allegedly taken during the 2022 Coutts blockade.
Numerous RCMP officers were on hand in Coutts as the convoy, featuring many Canadian and Alberta flags attached to vehicles, made its Coutts Loop while honking horns.
Police blocked the highway to the border, forcing drivers in the convoy to turn around.
Blayone says their presence was a little excessive.
"Extreme and intimidation," said Blayone.
"(They were) blocking the roads; they're scared that these people will block the roads. There they (RCMP) go again."
RCMP officers on scene at Coutts, Alta. on Jan. 28, 2023
The border blockade of 2022 created a lot of hard feelings among the residents of Coutts, which some say are finally fading away a year later.
Coutts Mayor Jim Willett says council agreed last week with a resolution to "let everything go" from last year.
"We just want to give everyone in the village some time to heal," said Willett in a statement.
Convoy to Coutts, Alta., Jan. 28, 2023
"The problem with any protest is there are people who come down on one side or the other, and people rarely stay in the middle," said Keith Dangerfield, who owns the Hills and Home Café in Coutts. "I think what has happened over the past year is a lot of that dividing line has disappeared and we're back to being people."
"I own a restaurant and we rely on customers, so we've all come back to being civil with each other," he added.
With files from CTV News Calgary's Ryan White, Karsen Marczuk and Tyson Fedor
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.