Two Public Relations Victories

Compare and contrast: bouncy castles & the Jerry can brigade.

Photo posted on Twitter/X (click image)

Recently, I’ve discussed the false charge that the bouncy castles were part of a nefarious plot to mislead the public about the Freedom Convoy (see here and here). Since downtown Ottawa was full of young families during the protest, and since people were smiling, hugging, and dancing the bouncy castles were a natural outgrowth, an expression of that joyful atmosphere.

They were also a public relations masterstroke. They were so large, so cheerful, and so family-friendly they became a major problem for the government narrative. As at least one trucker parked in Ottawa asked, “What kind of terrorists have bouncy castles?"

But the bouncy castles were an inadvertent public relations victory. The woman responsible spent three weeks organizing a full menu of child-friendly experiences. She worked long hours in the brutal cold to make those things happen, but her primary goal wasn’t to score PR points on behalf of the truckers.

The Jerry can publicity stunt was another matter entirely. In that instance, Convoy organizers distributed fuel containers - most of them empty, some full - to volunteers, who received a mini legal briefing beforehand about their rights and how to respond should a police officer question them.

(Two days earlier, the cops had threatened to arrest anyone supplying fuel to the truckers. From that time forward, ordinary people began bringing Jerry cans to the protest to signal their defiance and disdain.)

I believe I was the only journalist to witness/film/photograph the Jerry can publicity stunt in its entirety. Twenty-plus minutes of preparation and milling around outdoors were involved before the crowd of volunteers split into two groups and strolled cheerfully up two parallel streets toward Parliament Hill.

There was nothing inadvertent about that event. It was a deliberate publicity stunt. Planned by Convoy organizers. Like the bouncy castles, it made people laugh and went viral on social media.

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