Rallies in support of Ottawa protest held in Kelowna and Penticton

UPDATE: 1:10 p.m.

The downtowns of Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton rang out with non-stop horn honking Saturday afternoon as people flooded the cities in support of the large protest in Ottawa.

The weekly protest in Kelowna's Stuart Park against COVID-19 measures was bolstered Saturday by vehicles driving along Water Street and through Bernard Avenue, waving Canadian flags and honking. Many vehicles sported "F**k Trudeau" flags, while others waved signs calling for an end to vaccine mandates for truckers. Others simply read "Freedom."

More than 100 people also attended the weekly rally in Vernon at Polson Park next to Highway 97. Waving flags and holding signs, people lined both sides of the highway in one of the biggest COVID protests held in the city.

In Kelowna, traffic was largely stalled along Water Street beside Stuart Park, as drivers honked their horns in support.

A convoy of vehicles which started in Vernon passed through Kelowna earlier Saturday morning, en route to the American border. That group stopped in at Penticton's Gyro Park Saturday afternoon, for a rally in the park.

The events were in support of a large protest at Parliament Hill in Ottawa Saturday. Over the past week, truckers and other supporters drove across Canada to protest in Ottawa.

While the movement was sparked in opposition to the federal government's recent move requiring truckers entering Canada from the U.S. be vaccinated for COVID-19, it's expanded to include widespread opposition to all COVID-19 measures, along with general opposition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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UPDATE: 11:15 a.m.

A convoy of trucks and passenger vehicles sporting Canadian flags and "Freedom" signs rolled through Kelowna along Highway 97 at about 11 a.m. Saturday.

The convoy, in support of the large protest in Ottawa, left Vernon earlier Saturday and is heading south to the American border.

A schedule circulating online from the "British Columbia Interior Freedom Fighters" shows the convoy plans to head south along Highway 97, arriving at the border at about 3:15 p.m. It's not clear what the group plans to do when they arrive.

Over the past week, a convoy of truckers and other supporters drove across Canada, meeting in Ottawa today. While the protest was sparked by the Canadian government's newly implemented requirement for truckers crossing back into Canada to be vaccinated for COVID-19, the protest has expanded to include opposition to all COVID-19 measures and general opposition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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ORIGINAL: 10:25 a.m.

Dozens of vehicles, many flying Canadian flags, left Vernon Saturday morning in support of the truckers who've arrived in Ottawa for a protest.

The nation-wide "Freedom Convoy" saw hundreds of big rigs and other vehicles descend on the nation's capital to protest vaccination mandates and ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, while many called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down.

Thousands of people have joined the truckers, for what is being reported as a peaceful protest.

The mini "Freedom Convoy" in the Okanagan was comprised mainly of personal vehicles, but several big rigs also took part in the event.

Supporters came out to wave Canadian flags to encourage the local convoy, as they headed south along Highway 97.

The convoy will add to their numbers as they roll through the Central and South Okanagan, en route to the Canada/US border near Osoyoos this afternoon.

A similar convoy event was planned for Saturday in Lumby as well.

Supporters of the truckers are also expected to gather at Vernon's Polson Park near the fountain today at noon, at the intersection of Highway 97 and 25th Avenue.

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold has shown support for convoy.

"Truckers, like others, are only asking for an opportunity to continue to work as they have, safely, for the past two years without being forced into the Trudeau government’s compliance requirements,” Arnold said on his Facebook page.

“There are alternatives and choices, not ultimatums, that should be offered to anyone doing their job to serve their fellow Canadians.”