Occupy Vancouver
On October 15 in Vancouver, around 4,000 to 5000 people participated in rallies and the local general assembly. Many interpreted the unorganized and predominantly middle-class turnout at Vancouver and elsewhere to be renascent of a larger act of an anti-systemic nature rather than a social movement of activists.[36] The days following its inception at the Vancouver Art Gallery saw the arrival of over 150 tents, food, health and safety services, operating on a volunteer basis nearly around the clock. The early encampment coincided with the public outrage against the violence perpetrated by police against protesters in Oakland, and a strong public support with which public officials did not attempt to intervene. Although spurious claims of logistical need "housing and feeding activists"[37] were cited, the predominance of these activities compared to other occupies was due to the persistence of activists who favored these activities, groups such as food not bombs, which were largely unrelated to the politics of the larger movement. Counter-cultural aspects of the movement, as well as its emphasis on highly demanding participatory activities prevented many who were sympathetic to the movement, from seeing themselves as part of the movement.
Drug addiction, a documented issue in the area, drew many of those suffering from addiction to the site for its resources and accommodation. The efforts made by organizers to accommodate this population were frustrated when City Officials refused to let Insite personnel collaborate with them onsite. An increase of tension between Occupy Vancouver, City Officials, and mainstream media ensued by November 3, 2011, when a young man at the protest nearly died of a drug overdose,[38] During the response to this overdose, the Vancouver Fire Department issued orders to correct fire code violations such as propane cylinders inside of tents and insufficient spacing between the tents. The prompt response time (less than 1 min) of an Occupy Vancouver medic saved this man's life. Despite the VFD's comments about 'difficulty' accessing the site of the emergency, these claims were disputed in court by the first responder. Occupy Medic, Mathew Kagis, felt that the VPD's claims had been greatly exaggerated and were being used as an excuse by the Mayor's office to begin a campaign of harassment against the Occupy camp, although at this point, much of the public had begun to resent the occupation's lack of attention towards broader political concerns and organizing for change, and its intensified commitment to maintaining and supplying the tent city.
On November 5, 2011, a 23-year-old woman was found unresponsive in one of the tents due to what was later confirmed as a drug overdose. Medical staff at the onsite clinic responded in less than one minute of notification, with Vancouver Fire Department and Ambulance arrival 5 and 15 min later.[39] Gregor Robertson, the city mayor, made the comment that "Occupy has a right to continue, but the encampment must end." However, a protester by the name of Kiki, voiced in defence of the encampment to CBC that "had this drug overdose happened in an SRO in Vancouver's downtown Eastside, the mayor wouldn't have batted an eye." In the debates leading up to the civic election, mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton pressured Occupy Vancouver into a pivotal issue in the mayoral debate and aimed to remove the encampment in light of the young woman's death. Anton's attempt to galvanize the debate by taking a 'hard' stance on a nuanced and complex issue, was derailed by the nature of its tone, and its alleged political opportunism which Mayor Gregor Robertson termed as "Grandstanding" a term later applied retrospectively to members of the occupation who refused to deviate from their original talking points about the drug related death.[40] However, public image deteriorated as the camp's inhabitants proceeded to host a concert by the punk group DOA hours after the death, causing many who were revolted at this inconsiderate act to leave.
On November 7, 2011, city notices asking protesters to pack up their tents immediately were posted at the site. A dispute began between the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services crew and Occupy protesters over what was described as a sacred First Nations fire, which was intended as a provocation of Occupy's Vancouver's claims to Indigenous solidarity. Although a significant number of those present did not see the value of the symbolic demonstration, several protesters and native activists formed a circle around the fire while police officers moved in to pull them apart.[41][42]
On November 15, 2011, Police, firefighters and city workers moved in and started removing several tents and tarps that were described as fire hazards. The City of Vancouver applied for an injunction order to remove the entire camp, but the judge adjourned the hearing to allow protesters to prepare their legal response.[43] Several organizers within the camp began to coordinate the replacement of smaller tents with geodesic domes, which could fit up to 8 people, were easier to insulate against the dropping temperatures, and to better meet expressed fire codes.
On November 18, 2011, Justice Anne MacKenzie granted the city's request to order the removal of Occupy Vancouver's structures by Monday afternoon, including an order for enforcement by police. Protesters were given until 2 p.m. on November 21, 2011, to remove their tents and other structures.[44]
On November 21, 2011, protesters abandoned the encampment at the Art Gallery zone and relocated their tents to Robson Square, just outside provincial court facilities.[45] Justice Anne MacKenzie granted the Attorney General of British Columbia an order to remove Occupy Vancouver's new tent city by 5 p.m. November 22, 2011.[46] Just before 5pm the tents were packed up and occupiers moved onto the SkyTrain, and over to the Commercial Drive neighbourhood where they moved into Grandview Park. A CBC journalist reported that as they moved, and marched down Commercial Drive, that those with tents numbered around several dozen people. As they met at a general assembly on arriving at the park, participators decided to shelve the tent city model of protest temporarily and to resume regular meetings at the downtown public square.[47]
As of late January 2012, Occupy Vancouver was still holding weekly meetings at the W2 media cafe. More recently, the numerous "work-groups" which formed the primary planning and operations functions at Occupy began hosting "pop-up" events using many of the myriad organizing principles and ideas learned from Occupy. Students at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University have begun to separately re-organize around movement-building, education, and planning for Occupy in the Spring, including a weekly appearance by The People's Lovely Library at UBC, featuring a by-donation lunch and a free store.[48][49]
