The G20 summit in Toronto has disrupted schools, baseball games and theatre productions.

Eight downtown schools will be closed this Thursday and Friday due to the G20 summit. Toronto school board have also cancelled school buses across the entire city on Friday in anticipation of traffic delays associated with the summit. University students have also been displaced by the G20 summit. The University of Toronto has closed its St. George campus for the duration of the summit, meaning cancelled classes and the closure of university residences.

Blue Jays fans were disappointed when the G20 summit also meant that a three game series on June 25-27 between the Jays and the Phillies had to be relocated to Philadelphia, given the proximity of the Rogers Centre to the convention centre where the G20 are meeting.

And because the Royal Alexandra and the Princess of Wales theatres are located within the expansive security zone, Mirvish Productions was forced to cancel Rock of Ages and Mamma Mia! during the summit after meetings with the G20 security team and Toronto police.

But students, Blue Jays fans, and theatre-goers are welcome to ‘Shout Out for Global Justice’, an exciting public forum taking place at Massey Hall on Friday June 25 at 7 pm.

It will be an opportunity for them to hear from real leaders around the world – Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow, Bolivian ambassador to the UN Pablo Solon, writer Naomi Klein, union leader Leo Gerard, physicist Vandana Shiva, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman, War on Want executive director John Hilary, Indigenous activist Clayton Thomas-Muller and many others.

Tickets are still available, but going fast. Those disrupted by the G20 summit are invited to go to http://www.canadians.org/g20/event.html for more details.

Brent Patterson, Director of Campaigns and Communications, Council of Canadians www.canadians.org

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Brent Patterson

Brent Patterson is a political activist, writer and the executive director of Peace Brigades International-Canada. He lives in Ottawa on the traditional, unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Algonquin...