Vehicles belonging to members of the Great Canadian Cruise have been parking overnight in Penticton a few times this week.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Jérémie Beauchamp hasn’t seen his wife or kids in two months in order to be part of the so-called Great Canadian Cruise protest. After leaving the protest convoy in Ottawa a month ago, he is now protesting around the Okanagan and Kamloops.

Initially, Beauchamp only planned on leaving his home in Quebec to spend three hours in Ottawa during the beginning of the protest at Parliament Hill.

“And then I don’t know why. I told my wife ‘I’m going to stay overnight.’ And funny, next morning, I was escorting the big huge convoy in the city,” he said.  “After that … my urge just started vibrating and bouncing, so that was the first real emotion I had in two years.”

The convoy protest was initiated by pandemic public health mandates that applied specifically to truckers, but was quickly embraced by people opposed to all pandemic-related mandates and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in general. When the rolling demonstration reached Ottawa it evolved into an occupation that lasted for a month.

READ MORE: Cities in British Columbia prepare for trucker convoy protests

The main reason Beauchamp supported the protest in the beginning was for two reasons.

“A strong and powerful need to live my own life. And for my kids also – they need to live the life they want to choose,” he said.

Beauchamp was asked what message protesters are trying to send now that B.C.'s mask mandates have ended and vaccine mandates will be over in two weeks.

“The main goal for this – it’s just a cruise, it just started wth a cruise between friends,” he said. “The most important thing is the discussion.”

Beauchamp arrived back in Penticton yesterday, March 24, after the waking up with the convoy in Merritt. The group was originally planning to spend their nights in Penticton at the Walmart parking lot but they were asked to leave and spent last night at Skaha Park.

He is one of many Quebecers who are part of the Great Canadian Cruise. A few vehicles with Manitoba and Ontario plates were part of the group as well. They made their presence in Penticton known on March 23 when they held a slow roll with lots of honking in the city's the downtown for about two hours.

Last night, members of the Cruise and local supporters – around 75 people in total – met at the park’s pavilion for a barbecue and potluck.

Members of the Great Canadian Cruise gather at Skaha Park in Penticton, Thursday, March 24, 2022.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

On stage was a folk singer performing songs of rebellion.

“Well Trudeau’s a jerk because he’s declared warfare on you and me,” the lyrics went. “But we’re singin’ O’Canada and we’re standing on guard for thee.”

Many conversations in the crowd were about the recent deal struck between the federal Liberal Party and the NDP.

Trevis McKeegan is a trucker from Penticton who was also in Ottawa for the occupation. As soon as he heard about the protest convoy he decided with “no hesitation” that he would drive across the country to be apart of it. He was among the original fleet that departed for the nation’s capital in late January, and remained hunkered down on Wellington Street for the duration.

When asked if he felt deterred by the cost in fuel and two months of lost wages, he said he did not.

“No I think the freedoms of the country are more important than money,” he said.

Before an Ottawa judge granted an injunction against honking in the city, McKeegan laughed about how his horn was getting his truck egged by some locals who lived in the apartment buildings above. He would respond by telling them he loved them, and also with more honking.

READ MORE: iN VIDEO: Man and dog block Penticton road to defy local trucker protest

Asked how much of the donations made their way to him – given that large figures were raised but much of it was frozen – McKeegan said he was handed an envelope on the street that contained $800.

“That was all I got,” he said.

However, McKeegan said many donors were being generous with cash in support of the overall protest.

“Most of us all paid for our own fuel … we don’t need the $10 million,” he said. McKeegan was referring to was the money raised through an online fundraising platform.

The Great Canadian Cruise seems to have a fluid game plan. They had their sights set on Victoria as their next destination, but the local police caught wind and set up road blocks before it could happen.

“They learned, so did we,” McKeegan said.

Although many of the people taking part in the Great Canadian Cruise were in Ottawa for the trucker protests, members say it is a separate entity. 

While in Penticton, many locals have been irritated by the sounds of the horns. RCMP Sgt. Andrew Baylis said they are aware of the protesters but there hasn't been any need for police involvement.

“We will deal with offences the way they would any other motorist as we see them,” Sgt. Baylis said.

On March 26, members of the Great Canadian Cruise will be teaming up with the protesters from the Okanagan Slow Roll Convoy, which has been gathering demonstrators for a drive from Vernon to Osoyoos on Highway 97 every Saturday since Jan. 23.

“We are joining the Okanagan Convoy and coming to hold the line with you all,” reads the poster for this upcoming Saturday.

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