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The Freedom Convoy is getting media savvy as it settles in for the long haul in downtown Ottawa.
"We're meeting with media strategists, two experienced and well-connected gentlemen," said trucker Sean Tiessen from Grand Forks, who is one of Freedom Convoy's Southern BC organizers.
"We're refining our message and improving our image. No doubt you've seen many politicians and groups trying to vilify us. We've protested peacefully and will continue to protest peacefully. We've been picking up garbage and shovelling snow around Parliament Hill."
This latest strategy comes as a core of hundreds of truckers and their supporters settle in around downtown Ottawa to continue the protest against continued COVID restrictions that peaked on Saturday with tens of thousands of demonstrators.
"Those of us who are still here are committed to staying until the federal government mandates are lifted," said Tiessen.
"We're not going anywhere. We're clogging the streets so people definitely know we're here. But we're not blocking streets. We're allowing people to get to where they need to."
Tiessen drove cross country in the convoy in his SUV, so he's not sleeping in his vehicle, but is being billeted in an Ottawa home as part of the Adopt-A-Trucker program.
Truckers who drove in their big rigs are able to overnight in the sleeper units of their trucks, which are parked in the streets surrounding Parliament Hill.
Tiessen didn't want to divulge specifics, but he said future Freedom Convoy events are planned for the near future.
Politicians, police and other groups, whether they support the truckers or not, are saying the convoy made its point and now it's time to move out all remaining protestors and big rigs so downtown Ottawa can return to normal.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear neither he nor anyone from his government will engage with protestors because they are a small fringe minority that doesn't represent what the majority of Canadians feel.
Yet, a new Angus Reid poll this week found 54% of Canadian surveyed want all remaining COVID restrictions lifted as the virus weakens and we transition from pandemic to endemic.
Two weeks ago, a similar survey charted 40% support.
So, the tide is changing and it appears a majority of Canadians agree with what the truckers of the Freedom Convoy want.
The convoy started as a protest against mandatory vaccination for truckers crossing the Canada-US border.
As the convoy rolled across the country and support for it swelled, the message became one of no mandatory vaccination for truckers or any other group, such as federal workers, teachers or healthcare workers, an end to mask mandates and vax passports and restrictions on venues and gatherings.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, which has no COVID restrictions, is the latest celebrity to come out in support of the Freedom Convoy.
The governor tweeted 'Truck Yeah.'
Over the past week the truckers have also garnered support from Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Rob Schneider, Russell Brand, Evangeline Lilly and former NHLers Theo Fleury and Mike Fisher.
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