Overnight Occupation: Occupy Toronto Weathers First Storm

Last night, the first major storm since Occupy Toronto started. We checked in overnight to see how they fared.

By Christopher Drost

St. James Park, even in the middle of the night and in the middle of a storm, is quite a welcoming environment. Last night the camp saw its first major storm since the Occupy Toronto protest began, and the park’s new residents handled it rather nicely. A few tree branches fell, but the camp kept humming along, managing food and shelter and logistics for a few dozen tents’-worth of people. One key element of keeping things going: the marshalls, who walk around in neon vest as a sort of park neighbourhood watch. Even the police we chatted with were relaxed and curious, impressed at the level of organization that keeps things going day-to-day.

As we were speaking with them, someone decided to start singing out loud from the private sanctuary of one of the Porta-Potties; a marshall with a walkie talkie was dispatched to quiet him down. Just another night at the camp.