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UPDATED: RCMP investigating alleged vehicle hit

Two protest groups gathered in Ponoka on Sept. 10

UPDATE:

The Ponoka RCMP are investigating an alleged hit by a vehicle that occurred on Hwy. 2A and Hwy. 53 on Thursday, Sept. 10.

RCMP were dispatched to the scene at around 4:10 p.m., Cpl. Laurel Scott of K Division confirmed.

The investigation is ongoing and no more information is available at this time.

The incident occurred while two separate groups were gathered in the area.

One group in front of the McDonalds arrived at 2 p.m.

Callum Daniels, a member of Black and Indigenous Alliance Alberta (BIAA), confirmed that his group arrived at about 3:30 p.m.

BIAA has announced it will be holding a press conference at noon on Monday, 14 in front of the Ponoka RCMP detachment building.

Daniels says the purpose of the press conference is to “release details of the incident.”

Chevi Rabbit, an activist from Ponoka, is also planning a peace rally, set for Wednesday, Sept. 16. Time and place have not yet been confirmed.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

A group of about a dozen protesters gathered in front of the No Frills on Sept. 10, hoisting signs for a variety of causes and grievances — with the pandemic, government and other social issues.

Signs ran the gamut from protesting pedophilia to masks, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Many of the signs had a website, unifythepeople.ca. Some also showed support for police officers.

Joe Landsman and his daughter Tatianna were the only two people from Ponoka participating in the rally. Landsman says there wasn’t anyone else local willing to join, partially due to fear of retaliation from other groups.

Although the Landsmans belong to the Yellow Vest movement, they weren’t representing that group at this rally.

Landsman says the other participants, who came from Edmonton and Red Deer, are just ‘patriots’ trying to get the word out about their causes.

READ MORE: Yellow Vest Canada members make trip to Ponoka

Cody Fredrickson, of Edmonton, was the most local person at the rally, using a megaphone to speak to passing drivers.

Fredrickson says he doesn’t affiliate himself with any particular group, but he protests at the Alberta Legislature Building every weekend.

He says life for many people has become increasingly difficult since the coronavirus shut downs began — even just to get groceries — and suicides are on the rise.

He also claims many pedophiles and violent offenders have been released in Edmonton due to the Emergency Health Act.

“It’s a total power grab,” he said.

READ MORE: Anti-racism protesters march in Ponoka



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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