Some 60 Calgary sites have been identified as potential hot spots for protests during the G-8 summit, Mayor Dave Bronconnier says.
Citing security concerns, he wouldn't reveal which locations could become targets, but said Wednesday police have contingency plans to deal with all of them.
Some sites, he added, may be protected by barriers, similar to perimeter fences used during the World Petroleum Congress in 2000. "Depending upon the location, expect to see a heavy security presence, which could include physical barriers."
Anti-summit activists have warned protesters will be forced to break the law because the city won't approve the use of its park space for a Solidarity Village. Park space, they argue, would provide for a structured and secure gathering place for protesters and avoid confrontations with police.
"I find it sickening the level to which the city and other levels of government are willing to go to prevent us from peacefully gathering. . . We have been thwarted at every turn," said Sarah Kerr, a Solidarity Village organizer.
Among the peaceful protesters, there will inevitably be anarchists who intend to cause havoc, said Bronconnier.
"We're doing a lot to prepare for that eventuality. It's called 400 rooms at Spy Hill (jail), it's called another warehouse in downtown Calgary, it's called the remand centre. And for those who don't think they'll be arrested -- they'd better think again.
"We're not going to allow them to trample on the rights of Calgarians, which means if they go and choose (a site), they do so at their own peril," said Bronconnier.
However, Calgary Bishop Fred Henry says activists visiting during the G-8 summit should be treated with the Christian virtue of hospitality.
He has encouraged parishes in his Catholic diocese, which includes Kananaskis, to open their doors to visitors.
The administrator of St. Michael's Church, 4718 Worcester Dr. S.W., said as many as 35 young Christian visitors will be sleeping over in the basement June 24 to 28. "If we can help people who can't help themselves in one way or another, we'll do it," said Paul Kennedy.
Calgary police Insp. Al Redford said security forces will be both static and mobile, and will be able to react quickly to whatever happens during the summit -- Solidarity Village or not.
"When we started planning for this operation, there was no anticipation there would be anything like a Solidarity Village here in Calgary," said Redford. "It didn't form part of our planning in the first place, so the fact that it wasn't going to happen really changed nothing for us."
Bronconnier said activists turned down an opportunity to use Race City Motorsport Park in the city's southeast for the Solidarity Village.
Kerr said renting the site proved too expensive.
Henry said if G-8 leaders take care of social justice issues, security for future events will probably take care of itself. "Inequality does matter and must be tackled if world peace and security are to be achieved," he said.
Henry spoke Wednesday at a news conference to release a pastoral statement from the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which he is a member.
Local knowledge of the issues to be addressed at the summit is "rather narrow," said Henry.
"We've focused on security and whether or not there'll be a Solidarity Village, and there has been little discussion of the actual issues that will be discussed."
More attention must be given to structural elements of the international economy that continue to widen the gap between rich and poor, Henry said. Solutions to poverty will be found through the expression of diverse opinions and healthy debate, he said.
"We should not, by any means, equate activists with anarchists," Henry said.
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