occupy canada_0

Here are some updates from Occupy Canada cities and their relationship with their respective city councils.

Vancouver, BC –

At Occupy Vancouver, the city mayor has made it clear through the media that he wants to see Occupy Vancouver — located on the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery — shut down but has yet to issue a deadline.

It has become somewhat of an election issue for the current mayor, Gregor Robertson, and during a October 25, 2011, all candidates debate, said he hoped there could be a peaceful resolution to the demonstration. He said, “It is your right to protest. It is not your right to have an encampment in our downtown.” Rumours in Vancouver are that the policing cost for the occupy site have exceeded $500,000.

Calgary, AB –

Occupy Calgary is split into two different factions at the moment, with one group located at a central location in the downtown core — Olympic Plaza — and the other at the original located agreed upon by the authorities — St. Patrick Island — but a 20-minute walk from downtown. Olympic Plaza was taken by activists instead because they felt their issues were too marginalized at the far away location to have an impact on the 1 per cent.

On top of this split, city officials have informed activists that the plaza was already booked for the Muslim Heritage Day, so they have asked the occupation to respect that booking and either leave the area all together or move to St. Patrick Island if they wish to continue the occupation. A deadline of Thursday October 28, 2011, has since passed and no eviction has taken place.

Edmonton, AB –

Occupy Edmonton had been given an eviction deadline of Sunday October 23, 2011, at 11:00 p.m. by the Melcor Development Corporation that owns the park they are currently occupying in the heart of Edmonton’s financial district. This was the third attempt to remove the 40 protesters have been living on the 102nd Street and Jasper Avenue at Churchill Park, occupation site since October 15, 2011.

Over 200 people at Occupy Edmonton cheered as the 11:00 p.m. eviction deadline ordered by park owner Melcor Development Corporation came and went. Occupiers are said to be meetings with Melcor representatives.

London, ON –

On Wednesday October 26, 2011, the mayor of London, Ontario publically stated that the city felt it was time for the protesters to leave Victoria Park. “We understand and support the right of people to stage orderly and peaceful demonstrations,” Mayor Joe Fontana said in a statement. “But we ask that the protesters respect our bylaws, which do not allow structures in our parks or activity that prevents others from enjoying our parks. We are getting complaints from Londoners about this.”

In a press release from Occupy London ON, “We, the people of Occupy London, Ontario, have peacefully assembled in Victoria Park as a community to create a dialogue about human issues. We come together to engage each other to attempt to formulate solutions to these problems. We invite you to take part in our discussions. Recognizing the failure of traditional political institutions, we choose direct action through direct democracy.”

Halifax, NS –

Occupy protesters in Halifax, NS, have been asked by the city to leave the Grand Parade public square have been by November 6, 2011 in time for the area to be cleaned up for ceremonies marking Remembrance Day and the Dignity Day Ceremony. Mayor Peter Kelly has offered Occupy Halifax the Halifax Commons instead, though that large park is roughly a 20-minute walk away from downtown. Negotiations regarding this move are underway.

Click here for a directory listing of all Occupy Canada cities.

Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...