CALGARY - A sense of wary bemusement seems to have fallen on Calgary on the eve of the G8 summit, with few people anticipating the kind of violent protests that have marred similar international gatherings in recent years.
"I don't think anything is really going to happen. It's going to be pretty tame," said Shawn Anderson, 33, who works for a downtown realty firm. "This is an oil town. Calgary is motivated by money. If this was Vancouver, maybe things would be different. This isn't going to be Seattle."
Still, some businesses have taken precautions as the city prepares for everything from a nude protest outside a Gap store this afternoon to a planned blockade of the downtown core by activists tomorrow morning.
Yesterday, private security guards were more evident than usual on downtown streets. Some companies covered up corporate logos, a few businesses boarded up shop windows and executives donned khakis and golf shirts in a half-hearted attempt to blend in with the protesters who began arriving last week.
Prisoners have been transferred from the city's Spy Hill jail to other facilities to make way for G8 protesters, who staged a peaceful, almost humourous march Sunday afternoon with songs, dancing and puppets of G8 leaders.
Protest groups, denied a spot for a planned "solidarity village," go before a Calgary judge today to argue the city has violated their constitutional right of free assembly by rejecting their request for a permit to hold rallies in city parks.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association will be arguing the case on behalf of protesters.
Police have also erected a metre-high concrete barrier around City Hall and last night established an "access control area" in a two-block area around the downtown Telus Convention Centre, site of the G8 international media centre, consisting of a "low-profile," metre-high fence.
Despite the security precautions, most Calgarians doubt there will be violent protests. According to a recent poll conducted by Calgary-based Hargroup Management Consultant, 91% of residents believe some form of public protest will take place, but 56% believe they will not be violent. Another 18% believe the G8 meeting will be hit by some kind of terrorist attack. Only 4% of the people polled plan to flee the city during the summit and just 6% plan to stay home from work.
But some downtown companies aren't taking any chances.
A number of Calgary firms, mostly involved in international oil operations, were recently named in a pamphlet posted on the Internet by the Anti-Capitalist Kananaskis Collective. The on-line pamphlet, entitled Targets, describes the location and some selected activities of "offensive companies."
The list includes Suncor Energy Inc., Alberta Energy Co., Shell Canada and Talisman Energy Inc.
A spokeswoman for Shell Canada shrugged off the leaflet. "Fair enough, if that's their view," she said.
But the company has covered its street-level corporate logo with a "Welcome to Calgary" banner, stepped up security and expects to see a number of its staff take holidays.
"Given that the sign with our corporate logo is at the street level and that there is potential for vandalism, we just thought we would be pro-active and be friendly at the same time," said Jan Rowley, spokeswoman for Shell Canada.
Talisman Energy, which will be a target of a planned march on Thursday, has also ramped up security. Talisman has had trouble with protesters in the past because of its oil investments in war-torn Sudan.
"We are watching and weighing things," said David Mann, spokesman for Talisman, adding it would be business as usual for now. "If we see things are getting ugly, we may change our minds. But, for now, we are quite pleased with how this has been. It reminds me of the '60s."
RBC Financial Group has been planning for two months to ensure safe and easy access for employees and clients, including setting up an employee-update telephone line to provide information on any disruptions or delays.
"Certainly, we believe in the right to express your views, as long as it is done in a peaceful manner," said spokeswoman Diana Ward.
A handful of downtown shops also boarded up their windows to protect their stores from vandalism, while restaurants and hotels hired extra security personnel for the week.
Catch, a trendy new seafood restaurant in the city core, has hired undercover security to watch for troublemakers.
Lammle's Western Wear & Tack, a downtown clothing store, has boarded up its shop and may shut down if protests appear to reach dangerous levels.
"It's a flip of the coin," said Doug Lammle, president of the company.
"Hopefully nothing happens ... but we would rather be pro-active rather than have my store trashed and trying to fight insurance, government and all sorts of stuff.
"We are prepared to close the doors for whatever we have to because people's lives are at stake."
Craig Chandler, president of the Progressive Group for Independent Business, says small business owners are nervous about the week ahead, but he doubts there will be much trouble.
"The only thing I think we're battling here right now is fear," Mr. Chandler said.
"I don't think there are going to be any riots. I think any protests will be peaceful. I don't think there's going to be any violence at all. If there is, I'll be surprised."
Richard White, of the Calgary Downtown Association, which represents about 3,500 businesses, said he's not worried about protesters tearing up the streets.
"I'm not paranoid about it," he said. "I think we're concerned, but I think we've done what we can to educate people and we've said protesting can occur. We want it to be peaceful. We've encouraged our people to respect protesters' rights to protest."
Protests during the week include a nude demonstration in front of one of The Gap's banner stores in Calgary, with organizers claiming they would "rather be naked than wear Gap."
They have also planned a "showdown at the hoe-down," a march and street party tonight outside the official welcome party for G8 delegates and media.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.