Last weekend, I came across Kirk Lyttle from Foxwarren’s Facebook posts about the Freedom Convoy 2022. He and his 12 year old son Carver were on the adventure of a lifetime. I contacted him with a questions and the Lyttle men so generously shared their experience – and a bunch of pictures with us. I can’t thank them enough.
Below is the question and answer interview, with no information added.
Q: For you, what is the convoy about and why did you join it?
A: The convoy was about restoring our freedom and rights. I joined the convoy because my kids and their futures were in jeopardy, and I felt by joining this convoy I would have a voice to fight for their futures.
Q: Kirk as far as I remember, you’re an independent trucker. Am I right? How did you find out about it and how did you go about joining it?
A: I am an owner/operator for Chipelski Transport out of Russell for the last 3 years but have been driving trucks most of my life. 18 years as owner/operator for Russell Redi Mix and a few years in between for a long haul company hauling all over North America. I found out about the convoy on social media, followed all the prompts and registered to go in it.
Q: For your son, I see he’s videoing his experiences. As a Dad, what are you hoping he’ll learn and see from this once in a lifetime experience?
A: I really wanted Carver and my older son Dayson to come on the convoy with me, but Dayson has a job and school exams so just Carver got to come. I really wanted Carver to learn that if you truly believe in something (freedom and rights ) that you have to fight for them and stand up for your beliefs.
Little did we know, as we began on our convoy, he would learn so much more than that. He has learned how amazing Canadian people are with all their love, generosity and support shown to us along the journey. I believe he has learned how real Canadians are and should be. Unity has been missing in Canada for several years now. He has definitely learned that when Canadians unite together, it is a beautiful powerful thing. He is blessed to have experienced this forever.
Q: In your son’s words, what has it been like for him?
A: Fun. I don’t ever want to wear a mask again. I love Canada!
Q: When did you head out to join the convoy Where did you meet up with it and what was it like when you first started? Were there a lot of people in the convoy when you joined?
A: We headed out Tuesday, January 25th and joined the convoy at the junction of 83 & #1 west of Virden. When we saw the convoy coming from the wes, it was an amazing sight to see. There were big rigs as far as you could see! We cheered them on as they went by and the line was so long, we pulled out onto the highway and joined in the middle somewhere; it was very exciting! We had a very close friend Morley Butler and 3 of his grandchildren who joined in with us to experience it. The feeling we got rolling through our first town of Virden was so exciting with all the people waving flags and cheering, and then every roadway into Brandon had vehicles waving and cheering. When we arrived in Brandon, it was an overwhelming rush of emotions seeing all the people there. It was packed full everywhere. Kids were so excited about honking the horn, even Morley was honking the horn loud and proud. It was an experience they will cherish.
Q: We’re hearing and seeing reports of lots of supporters along the roadway – how is that making both of you feel?
A: Seeing all the people along the roadway cheering and waving our Canada flags was a feeling that is hard to put into words. It was a very emotional and a very proud feeling to be a Canadian again; a feeling that had been missing in the last several years. The passion the people showed was amazing as it was minus 30 degrees that morning; they were troopers.
Q: I know I saw a report that a group of Hutterite folks had tried to meet up with the convoy in Winnipeg and when they couldn’t get to the convoy to feed them, they jumped in their cars and raced to Kenora to meet you guys there. Have you seen that kind of stuff while on route with the convoy?
A: Yes, the Hutterites were amazing. What a great feast they served us in Kenora. As we convoyed east into Ontario, the support was amazing – so many 1000s of generous people greeted us with food, cash, love and support as we rolled into towns they showed such passion for this great nation calling us heros for standing up for them and fighting for them, giving them hope for a free country again.
Q: When did you get to Ottawa and what kind of stuff are you seeing there? Have you seen a lot of media there or watched their reports and do you feel that they’re being fair in their reporting?
A: We arrived at Ottawa on Saturday morning and unsuccessfully got into downtown as the City of Ottawa had barricaded all the major exits to get into downtown due to the million plus people at Parliament Hill already protesting. We instead parked on the street approximately 3 km from Parliament and we walked to Parliament Hill. It was packed with people celebrating, there were so many happy people wanting their freedom back. After a few hours, we went back to our trucks and convoyed to a baseball stadium parking lot and spent the night there. On Sunday morning, we convoyed up again and attempted to get to Parliament Hill. Unfortunately, unsuccessfully due to barricades at the exits. Our convoy captains tried eight different routes unsuccessfully so we convoyed back to our baseball diamond parking lot. We had a hot meal and shower and worked on a plan for Monday morning.
On Monday morning, we succeeded in getting downtown as the million-plus protesters were gone home to work.
The people of Ottawa are so happy to see us here. They are bringing food, offering to open their homes to us for showers, a hot meal, laundry etc.
They are happy, hopeful people wanting the convoy to succeed. As for the media, I have not seen them on the ground yet other than one Quebec news station so far. I have not watched mainstream media for over a year now but I did google a few clips to answer your questions. Oh my, they are making up a story to fit their narrative. If you are not here seeing and living what is actually going on, and only following mainstream media, you are getting a fictional story on what is actually taking place here. It’s still sad, social media is where the truth is: live feeds, pictures, videos of us on the ground will tell the truth. In the end, people are fed up. They want their freedoms and rights back.
Q: What kind of response are you getting from the people of Ottawa on the street?
A: The people of Ottawa are embracing us with love and generosity beyond belief. They are fed up with the federal government too.
Q: Have you always felt safe while you’re in Ottawa? What’s the vibe??
A: I am feeling safe with so many happy people here sitting in our trucks on the streets, watching all the Canada flags and heartfelt thank you’s, calling us hero’s, shaking our hands and hugging us. It’s very emotional seeing these people wanting their freedoms and rights back also. They’re embracing us with open arms. I personally expected way more backlash but I was wrong.
Q: When do you think you might be leaving and heading home?
A: We are coming home when the job gets done, however long it takes. We are not getting shrugged off by our federal government.
Q: Is there anything else you would like us to publish, or just write it down?
A: I am thankful for stepping up and joining in the convoy as it has so reignited my passion to be a Canadian again which was burning low in my heart. It is so awesome for Carver to see and experience what true Canadian love and passion for its people and country is all about. He is amazed and excited for his future again. Thanks for covering this story.
By: Terrie Welwood