‘Tension is palpable’: HighJinx sees trucker convoy protester situation

A downtown Ottawa social enterprise was forced to cut down on its services and ask people to avoid its store following an “escalating situation” with trucker convoy protesters last week.

As “Freedom Convoy” protesters continue demonstrating within Ottawa's downtown core, HighJinx — which sits near Centretown's heart on Kent Street between Somerset and Cooper streets — has been forced to adjust its operations.

“It's like nothing we've ever seen before, even through this pandemic, which has been trying,” co-owner Karen Nielson tells CityNews Ottawa. “The last two weeks have been completely different and worse. We have had to really cut down on our services and people haven't been able to access our store during the occupation.”

On Thursday, February 10, HighJinx tweeted that it “had an escalating situation at the shop” in the morning. Police were involved in the situation, but HighJinx asked people to avoid its store “as the remaining protesters are agitated.”

We’ve had an escalating situation at the shop this morning. The Police have peacefully removed the occupiers and their vehicles. Please do not visit the shop today as the remaining protestors are agitated. #ottawa #centretown

— highJinx (@highJinxottawa) February 10, 2022

On the morning of Friday, February 11, the social enterprise tweeted again that people should avoid visiting downtown Ottawa as well as its store, adding that the “tension is palpable” and that the weekend would be “intense.”

Please read this thread…The tension is palpable and this weekend will be intense. Please avoid coming downtown or to our shop. We will be working to support our Neighbours through whatever happens. #neighbourshelpingneighbours #ottawa #centretown https://t.co/NHoyolaE9Y

— highJinx (@highJinxottawa) February 11, 2022

Nielson founded HighJinx with Leigh Reid in March 2011, and the two of them currently co-own the social enterprise. Nielson describes HighJinx as many things, including a community house, store, hub and home in Centretown where neighbours can come and help other neighbours.

On top of acting as a hub and store that sells donated goods, Nielson said HighJinx also runs a community food pantry and kitchen where people can get daily meals.

She said HighJinx will never close its doors in order to continue feeding its neighbours and provide community outreach, and it will do its best to provide resources going forward.

“It's so much more going on behind those doors, and sometimes in the backyard or on the front porch,” Nielson said. “It is more than a store — it's a home. It's a place where the community can come and meet each other and feel safe.

“Unfortunately in the last few weeks, we haven't been able to offer a safe space — and that's what's been most heartbreaking.”

Amid the ongoing protests, Nielson said there's been a marked decrease in the number of people visiting HighJinx. She added that there's definitely a portion of Ottawa's population going without necessary resources.

“They are afraid to leave their homes, there are people that cannot get to us because public transit is impacted and they don't feel safe if they can access public transportation,” Nielson said. “There are people that just don't want to walk down the street or be harassed for wearing a mask when they're on our property, so they're not coming.”

She said Highjinx won't completely know the impact the “Freedom Convoy” protests have had on its community or where people have found other resources until demonstrators are finished.

“I really, honestly, don't know where they are — it's not a laughing matter,” Nielson said. “It's very worrisome to us because we haven't seen as many people as we normally would.”