Approximately 50 protesters and plenty of tents and equipment remained in the North West end of Victoria Park as of Saturday October 29th, 2009.
The Occupiers that I spoke to showed no indications that they were going to leave although I learned late in the day on the CTV Evening News that a few of the of the group had moved to the nearby St. Paul's Anglican Church site just west of Victoria Park.
A small ambulance seemed to circle the park while I was at the Park between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Occupiers were pleasant, polite and eager to explain the reason for the occupation to anyone who asked. The small camp site at the northwest corner of Victoria Park was clean and well organized and there was no danger or hindrance to anyone who wanted to use or walk through the park.
Many Londoners have had difficulty understanding what this group of "occupiers" want and why they are in Victoria Park. I found many signs around the Occupied area in the park. The one below gives some clues as to who the group is and why they are occupying this park in conjunction with groups doing the same thing across Canada, the U.S. and around the world.
Photo of sign on bench in Occupation Area: Photo by David Dimitrie, Oct. 2011
While I still admit that I find their purpose(s) unclear, I'm starting to think that their goal is to point to the world institutions that create social injustice, corporate greed etc. while trying to live in a manner removed from the things that they are complaining against and convince others to join them.
It's easy to dismiss these groups as dreamers but on a world-wide scale they have large numbers and even the most conservative among us are nervous about our economic futures. The coming winter months will be the true test of these groups. Will these groups stay or go once the snow flies? If they go, will their protests end?
