We Were Not In This Alone

Educational support. Spiritual support.

Part 1: I Need To Be There
Part 2: Ministering Angels
Part 3: Rice and Beans
Part 4: We Were Not In This Alone
Part 5: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Julie (on the right), with a friend. Photo supplied by Julie.

According to the dominant narrative, Ottawa residents feared and resented the Freedom Convoy protesters. But during the three weeks Andrew and Julie served hot meals to the truckers, many locals supported their Sir John A. Macdonald encampment, including occupants of the apartment buildings that overlook the Parkway.

A few wore face masks during their visits, explaining that they couldn’t risk being seen or recognized because they’d lose their jobs. Local residents such as these did their laundry, provided access to showers, and much more. In Julie’s words,

Every time this one guy would come down from the apartment buildings, he gave me cash. Every time. I said, ‘Are you guys doing OK? We’re not too noisy?’

He said, ‘You’re the best neighbours I’ve ever had.’ That’s what he said. And he said ‘Keep it up.’

So many people came through, and they would just keep saying ‘Don’t leave. Just keep it up, don’t leave.’

A woman who’d run a vegetarian restaurant prior to the pandemic brought pots of chili that earned rave reviews. A Coptic priest and his wife visited frequently, helping to organize the donations pouring in from all directions. Produce. Canned goods. Bags of buns. Their daughter, aged 13 or so, “would sit with my kids,” in the family’s camper trailer, says Julie, “and help them with homeschooling. So that was amazing.”

Attending church while they were in Ottawa, Julie and Andrew met a group of “some of the feistiest women.” During the intense, politically-charged atmosphere of those weeks, strong relationships were quickly forged. Julie talks about developing “incredible friendships” with people with whom she still remains in touch. They’d call and say, “Hey, things look a little bit dicey, we’re gonna take your kids for the day.”

While they were busy feeding the truckers, Andrew and Julie were themselves nurtured by Ottawa residents. “I have a lot of pride, so it’s hard to be taken care of,” says Julie. But during that marathon of grueling days, she realized she couldn’t manage everything:

In this instance I’m like, OK, this is from God. He’s providing this for us, so that we can do what we need to do.

…All of those women. God just sent them at the right time. When we were feeling so burnt out, they’d be showing up. And they would sit down in the camper and pray with us. If you don’t think God is real, going through something like that. Every little thing. You turn around - there He is again.

To me, that was probably the biggest part of the experience. We were not in this alone.

next installment: Good Cop, Bad Cop