When Cody Borek refers to “the road” he isn’t typically thinking about the highway.  For Cody and his wife Evalena, “the road” usually means Main Street in Settler, or Lakeshore Drive at Sylvan Lake.  That’s because the Boreks are not truckers.  Cody and Evalena run a couple of unique small businesses in Central Alberta. Sweet Home on Main Street in Settler is a ladies boutique and clothing store. They sell locally crafted vendor items. There’s even a cafe with on-site baking.  Sweet Home on the Lake at Sylvan Lake is the same type of operation, charming, homey, even trendy.  Certainly not the kind of place that comes to mind when you think of people who might drive across the country in support of something called the Freedom Convoy.

But before you make your judgement (I know.. you already have) just hear the Borek’s out a bit.  Maybe you’ll understand why they so desperately want to do anything they can to end this two year stretch of restrictions and division. Maybe you’ll understand why they loaded up their 3 children under 5 for a cross country trip promising as much risk as adventure. Cody knows there’s a price to pay.  So far about a thousand people have ‘unfollowed’ them on social media. Some have even returned items to their store because of their stance.  That opposition just proves the incredibly sad state of affairs the Boreks are so desperate to leave behind.

Cody and Evalena bought their businesses in 2018. For more than half of the time they’ve owned the stores, they’ve had to juggle covid restrictions on top of all the other challenges new business owners face. Days ago, their neighbouring cafe owner came over to tell them he can’t do it anymore.  He closed on the last day of January. One more piece of data.  Another business done in by pandemic restrictions.  For their part, the Boreks feel terribly uncomfortable asking customers for health information.   They know it’s a small price to pay for protection, but they feel like it’s becoming a permanent problem and they know it’s leaving some people on the outside.

They’ve also been raising three children.  For more than half their young lives, those children have not seen the smiling faces or enjoyed a ‘high-five’ with the people they come into contact with.  The youngest doesn’t know that world even exists. Cody and Evalena aren’t sure exactly what that will mean to the way their children think about the world and community, and ‘others’, but they know they don’t like it.  Then there’s the other end of the family.  The Boreks lost a grandfather in the midst of covid.  Like so many Canadians, they know the tragic heartbreak of not being there when someone they love dies, alone.  Their last contact with grandpa, was through a window.

In the end, the Boreks don’t see this ending.  The cycle of covid waves has the world heading in a direction they do not want their kids to grow up in.  That’s why they decided even though they aren’t truckers, they wanted to join the Freedom Convoy.  As of Tuesday, they’re still in Ottawa. Here’s a diary, tracking that trip, written by Cody Borek, and posted to his facebook page.  We have exerts and photos here posted with Cody’s permission.

January 25 – Leaving Stettler for Ottawa

This morning our family starts our drive to Ottawa The last 2 years have been some of the most mentally challenging of our life.

Family and friends have battled depression, business closures, jobs lost and there have been enough tears shed.

We do understand the first rule of business is to not get involved with politics. But we truly feel that this is so much more then that. Our 3 kids under 5 don’t know or hardly remember a life where strangers don’t wear masks. A life where you greet your neighbors and fellow community members with a smile.

We are taking this journey with our kids because it gives us hope. Seeing so much of our country come together brings tears to my eye.

Some of you will strongly disagree with us taking this journey and making this stance. We can respect that, but it is something that we needed to do.

January 27 – Why we’re doing this

January 28 – On the road with the Freedom Convoy

January 28  – Canadians come out in support

January 29 – Moved to tears

January 30 – Eyewitness report from Parliament Hill

January 30 – The media narrative vs my lived experience

Are there people here with questionable motives? Yup probably. But the vast majority of people, who have travelled from all across our country, just want to take a stance. We are united in the fact that our government is over reaching too far into our lives and trying to make choices on our behalf that we simply won’t allow. People want to do their jobs, see their families, visit with their neighbours and live their lives.

Trudeau:

“Canadians were shocked and frankly disgusted by the behaviour displayed by some people protesting in our nations capital.”

I’m sure they would be when that’s what the media shows them, and that’s the narrative you are desperate to push to slow any momentum. Thankful for social media to continue to share what we experienced. Not once have I felt unsafe with my family.

There are people giving free food at stands, and walking the trucks offering truckers free food and coffee. I find it impossible to believe it was truckers that demanded food at a homeless shelter.

I did not witness any dishonouring of our war memorials, nor did I personally witness dishonouring of the Terry Fox statue. Quite the opposite. But I’m sure there could have been some which is so sad that a few can change the narrative.

The police are EVERYWHERE, both RCMP on horses and from cities all over. All that we have witnessed are very friendly. They smile at the kids, and wish us a great day. A minority of them have their masks pulled down

I sure hope you don’t let the media convince you against the magnitude and peacefulness of this. There have still been no arrests. I do believe many in the city may be inconvenienced by this. The honking is constant and loud and you couldn’t drive to work. But you haven’t been inconvenienced to the level of losing your job.

Thank you for standing with us back home

CBC reports 8,000 people on Saturday and 3,000 on Sunday. This is just so wrong. I personally talked to parliament security who said they have never witnessed anything like it. He told me it was bigger then what they see on Canada Day.

January 31 – PM’s comments will ensure both sides double down in division

The Prime Minister didn’t take my advice about seeking to understand. Maybe I should

There are people whom I respect that disagree with me making this journey to Ottawa with my family. They aren’t as loud in my comments or messages, but I am certain that each one of my posts that challenge what they see would be frustrating. Just as when I see posts challenging what I am seeing here are frustrating to me.