City hall adds walkway barriers

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This article was published 14/02/2022 (1301 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two large barriers now block the centre of a walkway that leads to Winnipeg city hall — a temporary safety measure meant to keep vehicles from driving on the pedestrian path.

City officials confirmed the thick, grey wedges were installed Feb. 4, the day supporters of the so-called “freedom convoy” to oppose vaccine mandates first set up a lengthy demonstration in front of the Manitoba legislature.

“Barriers were installed earlier this month, as a temporary measure to prevent vehicles from potentially driving into the city hall courtyard, in the event demonstrations and rallies expanded beyond the area surrounding the legislative building,” David Driedger, a city spokesperson, said in an emailed statement Monday.

The barriers were installed near the city hall Christmas tree, after at least one vehicle apparently drove onto the sidewalk, which is adjacent to Main Street, and parked there during a demonstration, the city later confirmed. That crowd had gathered outside city hall to cheer on the convoy as it passed through Winnipeg in late January.

In a Facebook video shared Jan. 29, a man is shown standing in the back of what appears to be a pickup truck parked quite close to the Christmas tree, while protesters sing O Canada.

The convoy protest, which has spread to multiple Canadian communities, aims to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers, among other demands to end public health restrictions. It’s triggered traffic and noise complaints, though local organizers promised to limit honking late last week.

At this point, the City of Winnipeg says there is no set date for the walkway barriers to come down.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga