October 17, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Occupy Toronto: Monday October 17
A look inside the camp at St. James Park, and a couple of protests so far today.
By
Torontoist
A group of Torontonians, concerned about economic inequality and the perils of capitalism, has set up camp in St. James Park. We’ll be checking in with Occupy Toronto periodically, for as long as they’re there.
91846 The small protest at the TSX, timed for this morning's opening bell at 9:30 a.m.<br />
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<em>Photo by Dean Bradley/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery1dean https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery1dean-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery1dean.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery1dean.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"[email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery1dean/ 20111017otgallery1dean 0 0
91847 That crowd: at least as many members of the press as protesters.<br />
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<em>Photo by Dean Bradley/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery2dean https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery2dean-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery2dean.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery2dean.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"[email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery2dean/ 20111017otgallery2dean 0 0
91848 There was some Rage Against the Machine chanting ("I got no patience now! So sick of complacence now!").<br />
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<em>Photo by Dean Bradley/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery3dean https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery3dean-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery3dean.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery3dean.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"[email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery3dean/ 20111017otgallery3dean 0 0
91849 One passerby, who works in the financial district, stopped for a bit of a chat.<br />
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<em>Photo by Dean Bradley/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery4dean https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery4dean-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery4dean.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery4dean.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"[email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery4dean/ 20111017otgallery4dean 0 0
91850 Meanwhile, a calm morning in St. James Park.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery5chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery5chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery5chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery5chris.jpg 683 1024 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery5chris/ 20111017otgallery5chris 0 0
91851 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery6chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery6chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery6chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery6chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery6chris/ 20111017otgallery6chris 0 0
91852 Self-professed Mother Nature (and also a clown—it was her with the red nose in the cardboard police car in earlier photos) charms two children with some storytelling.<br />
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91853 A gallery of signs has been laid out on one patch of grass.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery8chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery8chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery8chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery8chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery8chris/ 20111017otgallery8chris 0 0
91854 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery9chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery9chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery9chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery9chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery9chris/ 20111017otgallery9chris 0 0
91855 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery10chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery10chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery10chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery10chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery10chris/ 20111017otgallery10chris 0 0
91856 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery11chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery11chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery11chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery11chris.jpg 1024 992 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery11chris/ 20111017otgallery11chris 0 0
91857 And a sign-maker, who asks passersby for donations of cardboard...and weed. <br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery12chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery12chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery12chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery12chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery12chris/ 20111017otgallery12chris 0 0
91858 The designated media tent.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery13chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery13chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery13chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery13chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery13chris/ 20111017otgallery13chris 0 0
91859 It also contains laptops for the Occupiers to use.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery14chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery14chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery14chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery14chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery14chris/ 20111017otgallery14chris 0 0
91860 The food tent, still going strong.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery15chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery15chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery15chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery15chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery15chris/ 20111017otgallery15chris 0 0
91861 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery16chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery16chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery16chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery16chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery16chris/ 20111017otgallery16chris 0 0
91862 The communication board, to keep everyone abreast of what's happening.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery17chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery17chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery17chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery17chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery17chris/ 20111017otgallery17chris 0 0
91863 Evil! It lurks even in the sunny-seeming park.<br />
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<em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery18chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery18chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery18chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery18chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery18chris/ 20111017otgallery18chris 0 0
91864 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery19chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery19chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery19chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery19chris.jpg 683 1024 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery19chris/ 20111017otgallery19chris 0 0
91865 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery20chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery20chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery20chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery20chris.jpg 1024 683 {"copyright":"SHiFT Digital. [email protected] "} https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery20chris/ 20111017otgallery20chris 0 0
91866 <em>Photo by Christopher Drost/Torontoist.</em> 20111017otgallery21chris https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery21chris-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery21chris.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111017otgallery21chris.jpg 1024 683 [] https://torontoist.com/2011/10/occupy-toronto-monday-october-17/slide/20111017otgallery21chris/ 20111017otgallery21chris 0 0
Monday dawned crisp and clear, and a smaller contingent of Occupiers has settled into St. James Park for the long haul.
This morning a small group—an offshoot of the main Occupy Toronto group called Occupy Bay St.—gathered outside of the Toronto Stock Exchange for a small protest as the opening bell sounded at 9:30 a.m. Most people walking by on their way to work did not pay much attention to them, though we did see one broker from the TSX stop for a few minutes to chat with the group. And then, a short march across King Street back to the park, with chants of “I got no patience now! So sick of complacence now!” along the way. Just a few dozen protesters at most took part, and despite much media build-up this morning, the event was a very subdued affair.
Meanwhile, morning at St James Park felt just like a camp of the non-political variety: people stretching as they came out of their tents, one man doing yoga in the gazebo, others chatting over breakfast and coffee. With three or four dozen tents, the park is active but not crowded.
At lunchtime, Occupiers marched up to Ryerson to join students for Social Justice Week . Police on bicycles are on the periphery of the crowd of approximately 300, and as of 1:20 p.m. they were about to make their way over to Yonge Street.
Reporting by Dean Bradley and Hamutal Dotan.