Created by OpenFileCalgary on Oct 16, 2011
Last updated: 12/15/11 at 09:41 AM
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Occupy Calgary came to a quiet, abrupt end on Friday, Dec. 8, 2011 after the protesters abandoned Olympic Plaza in the wake of a court injunction that required them to cease their occupation before 2 p.m. of the same day. Although things might not be over just yet, as the protesters left behind a mysterious gift to the city — a sculpture entitled “Heart of the Beast.” As of Dec. 13, 2011, the city of Calgary is still trying to decide what to do with this monument, “to the suffering of all human kind + (sic) to our increasing desire to overcome.” Occupy Calgary initially gained some sympathy from Calgarians, but it was quickly lost due to the group’s inability to find a cohesive message about what they were protesting. Disagreement within the group meant that there was no real leader, and no real agenda.
Approximately 150 Calgarians participated in Calgary’s iteration of the global SlutWalk movement. SlutWalk started in Toronto in response to comments by a Toronto police officer that encouraged women to not “dress like a slut” if they did not want to be sexually assaulted. SlutWalk was started to protest against blaming the victim for their sexual assault and rape culture that normalizes sexual assault. The movement became a global phenomenon, with organizers around the world hosting SlutWalks. Some protesters dressed provocatively and carried signs with anti-rape and anti-sexual assault messages. SlutWalk faced criticism in Calgary and around the world for the efficacy of its message. Many people believe that SlutWalk teaches women a harmful message about their own safety and that women should be encouraged to think critically about their behaviour and risk for sexual assault.
Calgary’s Libyan community protested the leadership of Moammar Gaddafi, former president of Libya, and his refusal to step down from power. Approximately 40 Libyan Calgarians met for a noon-hour rally outside of City Hall to express their solidarity with Libyans who were rebelling against Gaddafi. Gaddafi lost control of Libya during summer 2011. He was captured and killed by Libyan rebel forces on October 20, 2011.
Three Greenpeace activists were taken into custody after they repelled down the Calgary Tower and unfurled banner, “Separate Oil and State,” denouncing the relationship between Alberta’s government and oil companies. The protesters climbed out of a window on the observation deck and hung the banner 160 metres above street level. Police took the three protesters who rappelled down the tower, along with five protesters who assisted them, into custody after 30 minutes of negotiation. Because of the complex rigging system that they set up, police were unable to forcibly remove the protestors. Nine people were charged in connection with the protest. Seven of nine were sentenced on mischief charges and fined $2,000 each. They were also given criminal records for trespassing.
Approximately 400 protesters gathered outside the Telus Convention Centre, where former U.S. president George Bush gave a private speech at a luncheon. It was the former president’s first trip to Calgary. Protesters dressed up as Guantanamo Bay prisoners and attempted to shoot shoes out of a canon, as a reference to the Iraqi journalist who threw a show at George Bush during a press conference in Iraq on Dec. 18, 2008. Four people were arrested during the protests. Two men were charged with obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest, one man was charged with breaching the peace and a fourth man was issued a ticket a public behaviour bylaw.
Six weeks after the 2008 federal election, opposition parties threatened to defeat the minority Conservative government on a non-confidence vote. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois reached an agreement to form a coalition government after the government tabled a fiscal update containing several controversial clauses, including one ending public financing of political parties. Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded by requesting the Governor General prorogue Parliament, effectively ending the session 40th session in the House of Commons and delaying the non-confidence vote. On December 4, Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean approved Harper's request, which effectively shut down Parliament until after the 2009 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Across the country, protests were organized both in favour and against the formation of a coalition government. On December 4, protesters gathered outside the federal Harry Hays Building in downtown Calgary showing their support for the coalition government and voicing their opposition to the prorogation. Two days later, Conservative supporters, which included several local MPs and city council members, rallied on Stephen Avenue Mall near Olympic Plaza.
Thirty to forty members of the white supremacist group Aryan Guard clashed with 150-200 anti-racism activists on Stephen Ave, preventing the white supremacists from reaching their meeting place at the Mewata Armouries. Police formed a human chain between the two groups, and escorted the white pride protesters to the steps of City Hall, where they waved white pride flags. The scuffle took place on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racism.
Millions of people in more than 500 cities around the globe marched calling for peace in the lead up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. In Calgary, thousands of protesters gathered at Shaw Millennium Park before marching through the streets. Attendance estimates range from 3,500 to 7,000. It is one of the largest protests in the city's history. Police reported no arrests. Photo by Julie Hrdlicka
The Group of 8 held a summit in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2002, with lower-level G8 meetings held in Calgary, AB. Several antiglobalization protests were planned over the days of the G8 Summit. The first G8 protest occurred on Sunday, June 23, in which approximately 6,000 people marched in a Community Solidarity March through downtown, near where the lower level G8 delegates were being housed. On June 25, a Showdown at the Ho-Down was held outside the official mayor’s party for G8 delegates. Approximately 2,000 people attended this march and street party protest. On June 26 5,000 protesters converged on the downtown core for an illegal, early morning snake march. The march had not been approved by the city and it did not have a planned route, intending to randomly impede the ability of offices to function and for meetings to take place. A zone system was implemented with red, yellow and green zones. Protestors who intended to engage in active civil disobedience with high risk for arrest headed to the red zone, and protestors who wished to engage only in legal protest with little risk for arrest headed to the green zone. The June 26 (J-26) protests were relatively peaceful. Police made few arrests and did not use teargas on protesters. The protest did not significantly affect the progress of the G8 meetings, and some people questioned the efficacy of the protests.
Approximately 1,000 protesters marched peacefully through downtown at the start of the 16th World Petroleum Congress. Protesters marched to Olympic Plaza on Sunday, June 10 for the Rally for Oil Accountability and Responsibility to protest climate change, human rights violations, environmental degradation. More than 2,000 police officers were brought in from four provinces for the conference, as many people expected the protest to turn violent. Instead, World Petroleum Congress protests had a “carnival-esque” atmosphere. Protesters wore goofy costumes, such as dinosaur outfits with signs that said “Extinction Stinks,” and carried colourful signs and banners.
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