CALGARY – They’re determined to stay but the city says it’s time for Occupy protestors at Olympic Plaza to pack up and get out.
Emergency Management Agency Deputy Chief Tom Sampson says the protestors have caused approximately $40,000 worth of damages to the downtown plaza. That cost will continue to escalate until they leave the area.
“We believe that the Occupy Calgary folks should move, they’re causing damage to the environment situation. That park was never intended to be an overnight area.”
Sampson wants to get the campers out of the area so crews can begin performing maintenance ahead of winter and make room for other event groups to use the space.
“We believe that the occupy Calgary group should be respectful of those who have an event going on tomorrow and the subsequent events,” says Sampson. “It looks like we have an event scheduled on the 31st that may be cancelling now and an event on the 2nd who I’m sure are concerned as to what the status is.”
The group says they don’t believe they have caused any damage to the plaza and continue to hold a peaceful and friendly protest, keeping themselves open to any Calgarians who wish to join them or ask questions.
“I don’t think we’re going to be leaving on Saturday. We’re not going to be leaving on Saturday. We’ve been invited to stay by the group that has the square booked and we will participate in their event and hopefully they’ll be willing to participate in ours as well,” says Chris McMillan.
City officials say they have no plans to physically remove the protestors but insist the group leave soon. Five tickets were handed out Wednesday night for liquor infractions while the city has received several complaints of course language. Fire trucks were called to Olympic Plaza early Friday morning on reports of a small fire; the blaze turned out to be a candle in a plastic container.
City lawyers are studying the situation closely for a violation that could put an end to the protest.
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