Despite weather travel advisories, several convoys rolled through London-Middlesex, Huron-Perth, and Oxford counties on Saturday afternoon.
The London Police Service (LPS) announced that a small convoy of 20 vehicles started making its way through the city at 1 p.m. The small demonstration didn’t cause much disruption but was followed by a second, larger convoy later in the afternoon.
#UPDATE – A second convoy has entered the @CityofLdnOnt. We will share information in relation to delays and closures to keep the public informed. Please continue to monitor our social media for road closure information and alternate routes. #ldnont /9 pic.twitter.com/TyIBA8HaL1
— London Police Service ON (@lpsmediaoffice) February 12, 2022
The LPS closed and re-opened multiple roads throughout the demonstration in an effort to keep traffic flowing and keep emergency lanes and access to hospitals clear.
Parts of Commissioners Road and Baseline Road were closed for nearly two hours during the afternoon.
As the convoy approached downtown, it was reported that a group of anti-protestors blocked the vehicles by crowding onto the street for a short period of time.
#UPDATE A small group of pedestrians entered the roadway on Richmond Street for a short period of time, however, police moved them along without incident and the front of the convoy has continued northbound on Richmond Street. Continue to expect delays. /17
— London Police Service ON (@lpsmediaoffice) February 12, 2022
The convoy caused traffic and delays in the city; London Transit announced service interruptions in the early afternoon.
SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS: Due to protests, multiple routes are being impacted by service delays and/or detours. Please ensure to check https://t.co/Q1g8PxYYju before travelling for the most up-to-date bus arrival information. #LdnOnt
— London Transit (@LTCLdnOnt) February 12, 2022
The combination of demonstrations through London lasted nearly five and a half hours. The police said that the convoy finished at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Woodstock’s Chief of Police, Daryl Longworth warned that another convoy would pass through that area between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Longworth said that the protest broke into two groups before exiting Woodstock just after 4 p.m.
The convoy has entered the west end of the city and has split into 2 groups. 1 group e/b on Main St. and 1 group e/b on Dundas St. WPS officers are visible along the route and will work to minimize the impact on the traveling public and to ensure order and public safety.
— Chief (@DarylLongworth) February 12, 2022
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said that the entirety of the convoy that wound through Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Woodstock, and Norwich ended at approximately 5:30 p.m.
UPDATE: Demonstrations have concluded and all roadways in @OxfordCounty are clear^pc
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) February 12, 2022
This is the second weekend in a row that rolling convoys have passed through the area
