- Hub staff

Yesterday's rally and march through downtown Owen Sound could have been mistaken for a last-minute pre-election event, although organizers had made it clear that was not their intention.

The "freedom rally" began at Bill Walker's office, where a bullhorn gave directions from a truck pulling an 8 foot x 12 foot sign for the local People's Party of Canada candidate.

Former Conservative executive member Ann Gillies, who attempted to run to be the 2019 CPC candidate in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound before joining Maxine Bernier's team, also joined the march.

As marchers turned south on to the sidewalk on 2nd Avenue East, between the restaurants and patios, someone yelled “on the street – don't stop for traffic lights”, and much of the crowd moved to the road.

More than 200 were gathered at City Hall for more than an hour, listening and cheering to speeches from PPC candidate Anna-Marie Fosbrooke, martial arts academy owner Abrie Kilian, and organizer Ryan Elkerton, among others. We believe that independent candidate Reima Kaikkonnen, who has stated he would make Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound a "vaccine passport-free zone", was also in attendance.

Subjects included opposition to mask and vaccine mandates or passports, questioning reported covid numbers and vaccine efficacy data, and expressing doubt about the honesty or veracity of authorities.

Signs and speeches that were not specifically partisan spoke more broadly of freedom or specifically about vaccinations. The marchers were from across Grey-Bruce and relatively young. No public health measures of distancing or masks were expected by organizers, nor in evidence.