‘These protests make sure that the public’s real concerns aren’t just ignored,’ organizer states ahead of events happening Saturday across Ontario
Doug Ford is set to face some strong opinions on Saturday.
The Ontario premier is the focus of the Fight Ford Province-Wide Protest, which will happen in many communities across the province, including Barrie.
“Peaceful protests help highlight harmful policies,” said Jordan Grimbly, one of the main organizers of the protest alongside Roz St. Clair Campbell, a resident of Niagara.
“Each location serves as a center for communication among protesters,” Grimbly told Vilage Media. “There’s so much going on and it’s tough for people to keep track, so these protests make sure that genuine public concerns aren’t simply brushed aside.”
For instance, in July, Grimbly mentioned three significant issues: ongoing wildfires in the north, revelations about an MPP using taxpayer money for hotel bills, and AI data centers.
Other points of concern include cuts to funding for post-secondary students, ending supervised injection sites, modifications to the Freedom of Information Act, banning speed cameras and insufficient health-care funding.
“While we’d love to cover as many topics as possible during our monthly protests, we can’t overlook current events,” he noted. “It seems like every week there’s a new issue involving Doug Ford and the PC (Progressive Conservative) Party that naturally becomes part of our themes.”
Grimbly, 37 years old, shared that this movement began in January 2026 and had its first round of protests last February. So far, it hasn’t been through a provincial election campaign – although he says he personally pushed for strategic voting last time (February 2025).
“Even though it’s a difficult conversation and people don’t like being told how to vote, a coordinated approach might have at least brought Doug Ford down to a minority government,” Grimbly explained.
The group’s highest turnout at any protest has drawn over 5,000 participants from across Ontario, according to him.
“But our power comes from our partnerships,” Grimbly said while working towards his acting career. “We have around 55 local organizers throughout the province who work directly with local unions and environmental organizations.”
“People all over are also regularly sharing our content on social media and that grassroots support has been essential for our growth,” he added.
This Saturday’s local protest is set for 11 a. m. at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines.
“We see individuals from all age groups and political backgrounds,” Grimbly remarked. “It really shows how poorly Ford is regarded by the public since everyone has their own legitimate reason for protesting against the government.”
“While some critics say we’re wasting our efforts and that the government won’t listen anyway, these protests truly help build community,” he emphasized. “Together we are much stronger.”
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