A group of protesters served up a heaping plate of humble pie for Mayor Dave Bronconnier after violent protests failed to materialize during the G-8 summit in Kananaskis last week despite a massive beefing-up of security.
But the mayor didn't bite, saying the precautions taken by the city were appropriate.
"I'm disappointed," Katie Raso said after failing to personally deliver her homemade quiche to Bronconnier.
"We just wanted to give him this humble pie so he could enjoy it for lunch. He's spent the last few months slandering us, so we just wanted to talk to him."
Raso was one of four local activists who arrived at City Hall just before noon Tuesday to present the cheese, mushroom and red pepper quiche adorned with Bronconnier's picture and quotations from recent media reports of him saying the city wouldn't accept any misbehaviour from protesters during the two-day meeting of world leaders June 26 and 27.
"He wanted to flex his mayoral muscle. The mayor put his personal interests and opinions before politics.
"He made decisions that went against our civil rights and said things that had no foundation," Raso said.
The group was confronted by security guards, who questioned them before letting them enter the municipal building, where a "no food or drinks" sign kept them from walking into city council chambers during council's weekly public meeting.
Noticing that Bronconnier had left the chamber just before lunch break, the activists went to his office, only to find he had already left the building for a lunch meeting.
"His schedule is set weeks in advance, but I'd be happy to take it for you," said Bronconnier's chief of staff Marc Henry, who accepted the pie on the mayor's behalf.
Bronconnier responded to the criticism later in the day, after the food was donated to the Mustard Seed Street Ministry.
"Their comments are untrue," he said.
"The suggestion that demonization of activists and criminalization of dissent are without foundation. The protest movement had ample opportunity to voice their dissent at Foothills Athletic Park, in Olympic Plaza and on city streets.
"We demonstrated that these meetings can be held peacefully by doing it in a Calgary fashion-- very peaceful."
The lunchtime antics took place just hours after city council unanimously thanked city staff and emergency crews for their efforts in preparing for G-8. Several aldermen said they feel the city did a superb job hosting the summit and dealing with protests.
"I think the mayor should be congratulated. The only reason there wasn't violence on the streets is because there were so many police," said Ald. Ric McIver, while Ald. Barry Erskine said the city didn't overreact when it came to security measures that included closing most of City Hall to the public for three days.
"A lot of people say we did too much or spent too much money, but if something had happened, they'd accuse us of not doing enough," Erskine said.
"I think what was done was perfect."
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