The Occupy Toronto Food Team seized the basement at 238 Queen Street West on Sunday so they can continue serving 1,000 free meals a day to homeless and poor people.

According to the Food Team, the one-storey heritage site, known as St. Patrick Market, is owned by the City of Toronto and leased through 2039 to George Friedman and Queen Street Patrick Market Inc.

The agreement has been in place since June 15, 1989.

“The basement of the Market is designated for use by non-profit groups such as Occupy Toronto or the previous occupants Food Share,” said the Food Team in a statement released Monday afternoon.

“Unfortunately, years of neglect by Market Inc. have left the basement in such an abysmal condition that safe food storage, preparation or even habitation is no longer possible.”

But the Market basement has approximately 4,500 square feet of wheelchair accessible activity space, a walk-in freezer and other cooking infrastructure.

“It is the perfect place for the Occupy Toronto Food Team to continue serving 1,000 meals a day as we did in St. James Park,” said the Food Team. “This space is being reclaimed from Rob Ford and his ‘business interest’ acolytes in the name of Torontonians everywhere.”

The Food Team said they want a 36-month lease at $0.99 per year. In exchange, they are prepared to repair and restore the basement to safe and hygienic conditions, feed the hungry of Toronto twice daily, seven days a week and work in tandem with Grange community groups on collective action.

The group vowed not to leave 238 Queen Street West until their demands are met.

Around 3:30pm, the police showed up at St. Patrick Market and an hour later occupants left the building.

There were no arrests.

John Bonnar

John Bonnar is an independent journalist producing print, photo, video and audio stories about social justice issues in and around Toronto.