Anti-restriction protests making life miserable, downtown Edmonton residents say

Downtown Edmonton residents are bracing for yet another weekend of snarled traffic, blaring horns and what they say are at times frightening confrontations with anti-restriction protesters.

"We don't feel safe. We feel like hostages in our own buildings," said Tammy Kobliuk, who lives on 110th Street near the convoy's main route.

While protesters in Ottawa have been settled in full-time for weeks, Edmonton's demonstrations have been less permanent, with convoys travelling through the city each weekend.

Kobliuk and other central Edmonton residents and business owners say they have seen protesters in large trucks and passenger vehicles, and on foot, descend on the core and loudly make their presence known for about eight hours each Saturday for the past three weekends.

Kobliuk and other people CBC interviewed about the weekend protests say that many of participants aren't harassing residents and businesses — but those who are have been making life difficult.

CBC reached out to two people affiliated with the protest. One declined to comment, and the other has yet to respond. 

A temporary injunction granted to the City of Edmonton, prohibiting the frequent honking of horns, was largely ignored during last weekend's demonstration.

Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee said Thursday that officers issued 70 tickets, and that while six were for noise violations, many others were for distracted driving.

Kobliuk said she's disappointed in the police for what she sees as a lack of action to help residents.

"Their primary concern seems to be traffic, and they're proud of themselves that they've kept the traffic moving," she said.

Living in the core means living with traffic noise, and frequent large events — including protests.

But the sustained, negative effect of the repeat weekend convoy is different, said Chris Henderson, who lives and works in central Edmonton.

"It's people from external communities just rolling in, making life miserable for other people, laughing about it, and then taking off. And I don't know what purpose this is serving anymore," Henderson said. 

Henderson, who describes himself as a big guy, says he feels safe when he's out walking around.