CALGARY (CP) - Activists have abandoned their plans to set up a camp near next month's G-8 summit in the Rockies and are scrambling to find a new location in the city.
The activists, who planned to create an elaborate tent community near Kananaskis, Alta., had hoped to rent land from the Stoney First Nation, but the deal was squashed by the Stoney Indian band council. Now, they are negotiating with the City of Calgary to rent the downtown Shaw Millennium Park, commonly used by young skateboarders, to set up what they call a "Solidarity Village."
Organizers of the proposed camp said they are disheartened by the turn of events just six weeks before the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized countries.
"I'm personally disappointed that we can't have the vision that we had - a place in the outdoors next to nature and a venue to express our displeasure a little closer to the event," said Don MacNeil, of the Communication, Energy & Paperworkers Union.
"But c'est la vie, what are you going to do about it?"
Unions and non-government organizations had wanted to build a tent village to accommodate 10,000 activists for eight days around the June 26 and 27 summit. They hoped to create a festival-like atmosphere with several large tents for first aid, food, security as well as a main stage for music and theatre.
Les Steel of the Alberta Federation of Labour said the organizers still plan to gather in the city, about an hour's drive from where the leaders will meet.
"The only thing that isn't going to be there is the overnight camping," he said.
But officials at the city, which owns the park, suggested Tuesday that the activists could be in for another disappointment. They said they haven't even discussed renting Millennium Park to them.
"We haven't had that request at this point, at least nothing official," said Peter Brodsky, a spokesman for the mayor's office.
But he said the park was an "inappropriate location for that kind of event."
"We don't traditionally turn over our parks and recreation facilities for political rallies," he explained.
Bill Moore-Kilgannon, a spokesman for the Council of Canadians, said it would be far easier logistically to set up the activists' gathering in Calgary.
"The advantage is that it's right there in the heart of Calgary and lots of people will come out for the big speeches and musical events," he said.
The Council of Canadians has been on the village's planning council since the idea originated last November.
"Our primary focus is to do a big educational teach-in," Moore-Kilgannon said.
MacNeil said there's plenty of work ahead to build a village, including booking entertainment and hiring security.
"There's all the infrastructure to put in place - porta-potties, security, communications and all those kinds of things," he said.
"These are all big ticket items. It's a major commitment by all involved."
The Group of Eight meeting in Kananaskis includes the world's seven largest industrialized economies - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States - plus Russia.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he choose the remote location so that the leaders can hold talks in a peaceful, quiet area.
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