Frontline workers protest mandatory vaccinations

Protests against Canada’s federal vaccine mandates are coming to a city near you, as frontline workers and business owners rally for their freedom of choice. 

On Thursday, Oct. 7, a large protest was held outside of Devonshire Mall on Division Road between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Holding signs and standing on the sidewalk, these individuals were protesting mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers, paramedics and police.  

‘Heroes to zeros,’ one protester’s sign said, echoing the sentiment shared by many of the 57 healthcare employees laid off at Windsor Regional Hospital Met Campus for failing or refusing to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. 

The silent protest was attended by more than 50 people, with dozens more walking past the mall and stopping to ask protesters questions. Nearly all individuals involved in the protest did not wear masks and were standing closer than six feet to each other during the outdoor protest, in further defiance of local Covid-19 policy.  

The protest was organized through the private Facebook group: ‘Windsor/Essex Citizens & Businesses against Discrimination.’ Matt Hallewick, one of the event organizers and the owner of Versatile Distribution, said the protest was about freedom of choice. 

“We’re standing up for our freedoms under the charter. All these nurses are asking for fair accommodation,” said Hallewick. “They are not being given their rights at all. There’s no consideration for natural immunity or PPE. There is no justification to rule that out as an opportunity for these people.”

Krystle Bernauer, another advocate, and owner of Krystle Klean Co., said the gathering was called ‘911: What’s Your Emergency’ in response to a shortage of EMS workers which resulted in a three-hour delay.  

“This will happen in every field for our frontline workers,” Bernauer said. “We need them at work. We are coming here as a community to stand behind them and show frontline workers our support. We feel they should have the freedom of choice for their bodies.”

Across Canada, frontline workers and others engaged in silent protests over vaccine mandates. The new vaccination policy for many other federal employees will likely come into effect at the end of October.