Wearing a mask is impractical for Keyanna Dunbar.
Dunbar, 14, explained that she has respiratory issues in her lungs and her throat, while her doctor has told her she doesn’t need another health complication.
She was born with heart problems, and when doctors were performing surgery, they accidentally cut her vocal cord. This has affected her speech — she sounded winded while she was speaking — and led to doctors cutting off the paralyzed cord two years ago. Her left bronchial tube is also “smushed,” which is why wearing a mask is harmful.
Dunbar was one of 70 people who attended a “People Against Masks” rally in the Tourism Moose Jaw parking lot on Sept. 12. Residents of every age who are concerned about being forced to wear face masks showed up, with some holding signs expressing their opinion against the face coverings.
Two counter-protesters wearing masks also showed up and attempted to hand out masks; one attendee took a couple, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them repeatedly. The counter-protestors then held up their pro-mask signs while they walked throughout the crowd and engaged with attendees.
“I think it’s wonderful (to see a large turnout) because it shows people the other side of the issue,” Dunbar said. “It’s fine if people want to wear masks, but it shouldn’t be something that they make you do.”
While students in grades 4 to 12 are forced to wear masks, Dunbar pointed out she is lucky since she is homeschooled and doesn’t have to worry about that stipulation.
The main event speaker was Chey Craik, who also spoke against masks during a special city council meeting on Aug. 31. During the event, Craik listed off reasons why masks shouldn’t be imposed and presented several studies he had researched.
Craik pointed out masks are not the issue; they have become the hot-button issue causing division in society. Further, he believed the imposition of masks — especially in Calgary and Edmonton — was a form of “tyrannical control,” especially since this is the sixth month of the pandemic. He also thought this was more about controlling people’s lives and less about actual health care.
Afterward, Craik said he believed the 70 people who showed up — which was more than who attended similar events in Regina and Saskatoon — were a fraction of those who believe the same thing. He thought they were looking for someone to voice their concerns, didn’t want to lose those freedoms, and didn’t want the government to have more control of their lives.
“For me, it’s not about convincing (the counter-protestors). I’m a facts guy … . I don’t believe there’s a your-truth and my-truth, I believe that there’s a the truth,” he said, adding it’s a personal choice to wear a mask, and he has no problem with others wearing them as long as they show similar respect.
Counter-protestor Keenan Kleisinger, 18 — and his friend Andrew McLean, 18 — admitted he didn’t know what the rally was protesting against, while he thought attendees were stupid to disregard the advice of doctors and health officials.
“They’re going against science, like, basic biology, which is really stupid and really baffles me that so many people follow this,” he said, adding with a laugh that they were also there since they had nothing else to do.
Kleisinger thought the attendees’ belief that their freedoms would be taken away was again stupid since he couldn’t figure out what rights were being taken away. He didn’t think the government was attempting to take away people’s rights; after all, it didn’t do that during the Spanish influenza of 1918. He also didn’t see the military being brought in, while no one was being forced to do anything.
The teen based his decision to wear a mask on the opinions of health officials who spent eight to 12 years in medical school.
“I think their egos hurt; they’re really hurt. They can’t get past that,” laughed Kleisinger. “… they don’t want to wear a mask and keep other people safe. It’s a complete disregard for citizenship (and) our community. It’s sad to see so many people following an idiotic movement.”
