In Your Chariots of Steel

'It took a convoy of thousands, on a crazy, chaotic, freezing Saturday in January to humble me.'

Many Ottawa residents welcomed the truckers with open arms. Melissa McKee, the wife of a local pastor, says she had more volunteers than she knew what to do with. Numerous people contacted her church offering to house and feed the truckers.

Condo dweller Michael Grandlouis spent hours, the weekend the Freedom Convoy arrived in town, personally thanking them.

Two weeks later, photojournalist Beth Baisch recorded an Ottawa resident out on the street with a megaphone, delivering similar words of welcome.

Also around that time “Ethan, from Ottawa” delivered a letter to the truckers. It reads:

Dear friend,

It’s a bit awkward doing this after a few weeks but seeing as how none of Ottawa’s elected officials cared to officially wlecome you to our city and are now unceremoniously trying to kick you out (the nerve!) I have taken it upon myself to play host and cordially welcome you to Ottawa on behalf of all Canadians.

Ottawa is not just home to the people who live here. It is our nation’s capital. And it is made better by having people, including truckers, from all backgrounds, walks of life, creeds, faiths, and differences, from coast to caost. Thank you for being here and standing up for the rights of your fellow citizens.

Like millions of other Canadians, I am with the truckers. Every day, your support grows. Every day, more of the government’s lies are exposed. People are thinking for themselves and finding out what’s going on. You don’t have to worry about whatever happens next. You are on the right side of history.

Canadians are ready for the mandates to end, and for our governments to give back the emergency powers that they have coveted these last two years. But we needed someone like you to speak up for us and stand up for the rest of Canada - here, in our capital. As you continue to do this, there are people trying to divide us against each other. This is sad, but not surprising. Our country lacks real leadership.

I promise you that people don’t hate you. Not truly. They are just scared. To exclude or hate is not who we are as Canadians. Only the unloved hate; only the unloved and the unnatural. In time, Canadians will apologize for their wrongs, just as I have. But it took a convoy of thousands, on a crazy, chaotic, freezing Saturday in January to humble me and help me see the error of my ways. Others may need more time.

As I look to what happened at Coutts, Windsor, Sarnia, Toronto, Quebec City, Halifax, Surrey and more - I see people from across this country rallying to your cause. Beyond this, in the U.S., France, Australia, Netherlands, and Europe, people are calling out for their freedom. The world is following your example.

What you have done has inspired millions more, and with every moment you are here, resolute in your principles and beliefs, unmoving in your chariots of steel, you are changing the course of history for the better. You are showing the true power of peace and democratic expression. This is how Canada leads.

At this stage, it has become a game, a psychological test of mental strength. And you are winning. Your opponent has already cracked. You are above their insults and they cannot hurt you. Your cause is just.

Freedom is not granted, it is pure, and it belongs to all Canadians, regardless of what their government says. This is the true north - strong and free, and we are forever in your debt for holding the line.

With deep admiration and respect,

Ethan, from Ottawa