Two of the drivers who took part in the United We Roll truck convoy from Red Deer to Ottawa stopped in Grande Prairie on Thursday to share how they feel it went.
“There is an absolute disconnect. They’ve always told us for years that the rest of the country doesn’t like Alberta’s gas and oil,” says Pat King, who drove the lead vehicle in the convoy.
“It’s totally the opposite, they’re pushing for it and they need it,” he adds
King and partner Jay Riedel picked Grande Prairie because of the size of the convoy in the city prior to the cross country trip.
“It was absolutely fantastic. The oil and gas industry is a huge contributor to the community. It’s one of our key goals to come here and tell them how it went in Ottawa,” he says.
King says despite media reports he feels the message and tone was one of unity and not racism. Which is something he feels the media fabricated.
“[The media] made implications that it was an angry message. It wasn’t, and in fact, it was something even more.”
Grande Prairie was the last stop on a four-city tour which included Red Deer and Drayton Valley.