By Taylor Chartrand

VIDEO: A statement made as thousands show energy sector support

Dec 22, 2018 | 5:01 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – The streets of Medicine Hat were packed today.

Normally, it would be because it was the busiest weekend of the year, as shoppers finished their last minute Christmas shopping, but not today.

Thousands of Hatters turned out to show their support for not only the Rally for Resources Truck Convoy, but also the Yellow-Vest protest.

Heading into the truck rally, organizers had roughly 200 participants signed up.

When it was all said and done, the lead pilot vehicle estimated 671 units departed from Redcliff and hit Highway One.

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Along the way, organizers said more vehicles joined in support, putting the total number of motorists to over 700.

Some of the businesses that took part in today’s rally included Contact Automation, Dynamic Heavy Haul, Hydraco, Hydrodig, Iron Horse, STEP Energy and Trican, just to name a few.

In addition to the truck rally, the Yellow-Vest campaign was also taking place in Medicine Hat.

In total, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat Drew Barnes estimated that 350 people were at the protest, which was held outside of Staples.

Along with that, Barnes speculated there were roughly 5,000 people spread throughout the city, either spectating or protesting along the route.

After speaking with members of the crowd and scanning social media, there was one word that was apparent: pride.

That word could be heard no matter where you went, as residents were astounded with the amount of support that the energy sector got on this day.

Owner of Sabine CO2 Logistics Jerry Sabine said he’s one of those people who took pride in what happened today.

“It’s nice to see everybody turn out here,” said Sabine. “Medicine Hat is an oil and gas community and when it comes down to it, we stick together.”

And even though some of these businesses are in direct competition with one another, Sabine said we’re all Albertans.

“As Albertans, we’re all in the same boat together. We have to pull through this and make Alberta great again.”

Sabine said he has one message for the Liberal Government

“We need pipelines out here and we need to re-think such things as Bill C-69. We need help getting our product to tidewater and pipelines are the way to do it.”