Mayor Rob Ford is blaming the Occupy Toronto folks for the alleged damage to the lawn at St. James Park from the forty days of the occupation, but he’s not telling the whole story.

On November 24, the day following the eviction, Occupy Toronto folks met with the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Business Improvement Association and Pam McConnell (Councillor, Toronto Centre – Rosedale) to offer their assistance in restoring the park if it was necessary. There was agreement that the park looked a little drab but which park doesn’t during the gloomy days of November? Everyone concluded there was no work to be done to the park. Continue reading →

The eviction of the tents and yurts from St. James Park, Toronto, on November 23 did not put an end to the Occupy movement. Now, the Occupiers can focus their energy to move forward to build the movement. A lot of time was invested to set up and maintain the Occupy village. The Occupiers were able to create a safe place for the mentally ill, the homeless, the young and the old to work and live together, since the park was maintained as a drug- and alcohol-free space. Everyone had a voice and was able to participate in the community.

 The eviction process was a mostly peaceful dismantling of the site. A few protesters barricaded themselves in the library as a symbolic action, since the library yurt had become the heart of Occupy Toronto. It represented a quiet space for reflection, learning, freedom of thought and a place for expression. Continue reading →

Hundreds of Occupiers weathered freezing rain and mud, many staying awake all night on Tuesday, anticipating possible eviction. While all tents and structures are being removed from St. James Park, the spirit of the protesters remains strong. General Assemblies are continuing, and the Occupy movement continues to grow.

See photos from Wednesday, November 23

As everyone has probably learned by now, the future of our occupation at St James park is in jeopardy. Regardless of whether or not we are eventually evicted from the park the occupy movement will continue!

Inhabitants of the park were threatened with eviction on Tuesday morning this week, though police did not actually raid the camp due to a court injunction that gives us three days to continue our occupation while the court determines what to do with us. Continue reading →

An Ontario court judge has temporarily suspended an eviction notice issued by the City of Toronto that would have forced occupants of St. James Park to abandon their encampment at midnight tonight.

In the ruling released shortly before 6 p.m. this evening, the court suspended the eviction notice issued earlier today, pending a full court hearing on Friday Nov. 18. The judge presiding over the case told court he would bring down a final ruling on the eviction notice by 6 p.m. Saturday Nov. 19. Continue reading →