Members of the Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin NDP Constituency Association were joined by other frustrated Albertans in Wetaskiwin on March 20 as they protested across the highway from a private UCP fundraising event.
The dinner and auction hosted by local MLAs Rick Wilson and MLA Adrianna La Grange, and attended by Premier Danielle Smith and other UCP party members, was held at the Wetaskiwin Ag Centre from 4 to 6 p.m.
The NDP-organized rally was planned to coincide with the UCP party members' arrivals.
About 50 people came out, including teachers, nurses and retired teachers. There was also representation from the LGBTQ community, and members from Touchstone Place Clubhouse, which is having its funding cut at the end of April.
"I was proud," said the local NDP constituency association's executive communications director Susan Kokas, adding as a first-time protest organizer, the response was encouraging.
The plan for the rally came together quickly, with a lot of support, she said.
Kokas said she was surprised at the range of people who came out - from young men to seniors using canes - and the distance some travelled to participate.
She said she 'surveyed' people as they arrived, and heard they'd come from Airdrie, Bashaw, Camrose, Red Deer, New Sarepta, Wetaskiwin county and city, Edmonton, Ponoka and Lacombe.
"There was a variety ... it was widespread."
The concerns of the picketers ranged from keeping their pensions, to funding cuts and insufficient wages and UCP policies the protesters feel are harmful. What they all had in common was anger, said Kokas.
"They may not have heard us, but they saw us, and they saw those signs and they can't ignore that."
Some of the messages on the signs included "Rural AB is Fed Up," "Is this the new Rockies? Stop Coal," "Don't Pull the Plug on Public Health Care," "Unlimited Corruption Party," "Danielle's Plan, Pay More, Get Less," and "Albertans Deserve Better."
While there was some negative reaction to their rally - some intimidation tactics by large trucks, middle fingers and heated comments on social media - the majority of the response from traffic passing down Highway 13 was positive, according to Kokas.
"There was lot of engagement on the road," she said.
"I realized I'm not alone," said Kokas. "That gave us all energy to know we can make a difference."
The association is planing to hold more rallies in the future, as well as information sessions with expert guest speakers on topics such as electricity, and potential tarriffs.
"We're reaching out to rural Alberta," said Kokas, adding that doesn't just mean small communities, but farmers and producers as well.
