Jay Riedel is still pleased with the Canada’s Patriot Party event on the weekend, even if the planned beneficiary for the event decided it wouldn’t accept the funds.
The Patriot Party was held on Aug. 30 and 31. It was originally scheduled to support Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS) Canada, but two days before the event, VETS Canada said they wouldn’t accept funds, citing concerns with the organizers of the Patriot Party and groups they’re affiliated with.
But organizers proceeded, and Riedel said they would still find a way to support veterans.
VETS Canada announced on Thursday they were backing out of the event. They said they were approached by Jayme Knyx of Ogologo Media regarding the event, with the proceeds going to VETS Canada.
“At the time, VETS Canada agreed to the proposal,” they said in a news release. “Since then, it has come to our attention that some of the organizers and participants of the event may be associated with organizations and groups whose views and beliefs to not align with the VETS Canada principles and values.”
They opted not to accept the proceeds, even though the funds are “desperately needed” by many veterans across Canada.
“VETS Canada is an organization that prides itself on supporting and promoting diversity and inclusivity, and it is important that we align ourselves with organizations and groups that share our principles and values,” said Jim Lowther, co-founder of VETS Canada.
The following day, VETS Canada said it was being attacked by supporters of the Patriot Party. They even posted a profanity-laden phone message on their Twitter account from one angry caller.
VETS Canada later said it stood by its decision to not accept funds from the Patriot Party.
Riedel said there wasn’t any indication prior to Thursday that VETS Canada would pull out, but he wasn’t surprised when it happened. He was disappointed with their decision.
“It’s not hurting anybody but the actual veterans who actually need the money,” said Riedel. “And I think a lot of the veterans themselves might be speaking out about it, because they themselves know that this is only to benefit them. We have no control over what people say in their messages … but I think there are a lot of people that are really, really wondering what really goes on.”
He blamed people in Eastern Canada for applying pressure to VETS Canada.
Riedel has been a supporter of the yellow vest movement and organized the yellow vest protests that have been held in Estevan since last December. He believes that a lot of the issues people have with the yellow vests stemmed from things that were said when their Facebook page started up last December.
“They did not vet the people who came onto that group. There were a lot of rude comments and a lot of things that shouldn’t have been said on there, and this was a place to group a bunch of like-minded people together.”
Now the organizers of the Patriot Party have started looking for somewhere else to direct the proceeds. He noted the event attracted people from every Canadian province.
“It was pretty amazing to have everybody actually make it that far, and to be able to have an awesome weekend, and finally get to put a lot of faces to all of the people who have been on all of the live feeds since the beginning,” said Riedel.
A convoy started at KRJ Custom Fabricating on Saturday morning, and rolled through downtown Estevan. Nearly 50 vehicles were involved.
The convoy featured pickup trucks, SUVs and small cars, with Canadian flags, provincial flags and other flags flapping from the vehicles. Previous convoys he has been a part of had largely semi-trailer units.
Supporters convened in front of the Estevan Court House on Saturday afternoon, with nearly 100 people present. A couple of the speakers were veterans but several other speakers also addressed the crowd.
They were highly critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his policies, and offered their hopes that Canada would have a new government after the Oct. 21 federal election.
And while some of the speakers shone a light on the plight veterans face, others used the platform to criticize the carbon tax, the government’s support for the United Nations global migration pact and other issues.
The scene shifted to the Bienfait once the rally was over. Knyx was one of the performers. Entertainment was also courtesy of former Canadian Idol runner-up Jaydee Bixby and the band Sweet Tequila.
“It was great. I think people had a lot of fun. I’ve been getting a lot of comments,” said Riedel.
The Patriot Party also included a showing of the Labour Day Classic football game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday afternoon in Bienfait.
Riedel estimates about $7,000 has been raised already, and with additional funds through silent auction and other efforts to come in, he hopes that $10,000 can be raised.
“We’re still debating on whether we might just hand this to actual veterans who need the money, so that it doesn’t go through a third party,” he said.
Everything they do with the money will be transparent, and he even suggested a live feed when the money is donated.
