Revelstoke highway 'freedom' protest participants share their perspectives

Revelstoke Mountaineer Podcast

Protesters opposed to pandemic-related restrictions and other issues gathered on the Trans-Canada Highway in Revelstoke on Feb. 12, 2022, a day that saw continued protests in Ottawa and blockades at blockades at border crossings in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. To cover the story, we opted for an audio format, producing this Revelstoke Mountaineer Podcast episode and you can see further reporting on the protest on revelstokemountaineer.com. The protesters are mistrustful of the media, saying so many times in our interviews, so we told the protesters we’d be doing roughly five-minute audio interviews with each, then we'd them together into the podcast. We spoke to four protesters: Shawn Sanders, who was one of the leaders of the protest, volunteered to go first. After that, protester Renee Shaw, who was dancing energetically and waving iridescent costume wings next to the highway, was quick to volunteer next. After that interview, we addressed part of the crowd, asking for volunteers. Michael Ferrera, who was manning the barbecue at the time, volunteered next. Finally, Sally Miller, who had stood close by and listened as Renee Shaw was interviewed, volunteered to go next. The interviewees had lots to say. Our act of interviewing the protesters doesn't endorse their views or the factual claims that people made on pandemic-related topics; rather, it's intended to be a window into the perspectives of some Revelstoke community members meant to help listeners understand pandemic-related events happening around them in the community, such as the protest.