Timeline of Occupy Regina

During the time the Occupy Regina movement was set up in Victoria Park, I covered most of the protest for the Regina Leader-Post.

As a result of my experience and knowledge of the movement, I decided to compile a timeline documenting the major events in the Occupy Regina movement, beginning with the Occupy movement that started it all.

Behind each date, click on the word 'story' to find more details on each of the events as officially reported by the media.


September 17, 2011: Occupy Wall Street began in New York City with protesters in a park near the New York Stock Exchange. (story)

October 5: Plans were in place for Occupy Regina to be set up on Oct. 15 in Victoria Park. (story)

October 15: More than 100 protesters gathered in Victoria Park to participate in the official beginning of Occupy Regina. (story)

October 18: There are 10 tents set up at the Occupy Regina site.  (story)

November 1: The Occupy Regina protesters began to prepare for winter in the dropping temperatures. There were still 30 tents set up in Victoria Park. (story)

November 2: Occupy Saskatoon began to disband. (story)

November 3: The Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians donated a portable toilet to the Occupy Regina protesters. Most protesters said they had no plans to leave despite the break-up of Occupy Saskatoon.

Dwayne Flaman, the manager of bylaw enforcement for the City of Regina, said there are no plans to force the protesters to leave. (story)

November 7: The City of Regina asked the Occupy Regina protesters to voluntarily pack up their camp. The portable toilet was also taken away. (story)

November 9: Approximately 60 Occupy Regina protesters rally in front of city hall. The City of Regina had also shut off the camp's power only a few days after it started.

At 12:40 p.m., two protesters went inside city hall to discuss three demands:

                                        1. To be allowed to stay in their tents in Victoria Park

                                        2. To have their portable toilet returned

                                        3. To have their power at the camp restored

At 12:45 p.m., all protesters went into city hall demanding to speak with Mayor Pat Fiacco, which was not permitted.

At 4:45 p.m., all protesters left peacefully when city hall closed. (story)

November 10: The City of Regina served the Occupy Regina protesters eviction notices. The notices stated the protesters were violating the city's Parks and Open Space bylaw, which forbids people to remain in any city park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The notices outlined three demands:

                                        1. To not protest in any city park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

                                        2. To remove all shelters and tents permanently

                                        3. To remove all personal property

The notices stated the protesters had until November 12 at 8 a.m. to leave, but it would not be enforced until November 14. Glen Davies, the city manager, said the next step would most likely be ticketing. The maximum fine is up to $2,000. (story)

November 12: About a dozen tents remained at the Occupy Regina camp. (story)

November 14: At 11:13 p.m., members of the Regina Police Service handed out seven tickets to Occupy Regina protesters.

One 46-year-old man was taken into custody on a breach unrelated to the bylaw offence. Five men and two women were issued tickets with a mandatory court appearance date set for December 14. (story)

November 15: At 11:30 p.m., two more protesters were issued tickets by Regina police for remaining in the park. (story)

November 16: Members of the Regina Police Service and City of Regina bylaw enforcement tore down the remaining nine tents at Victoria Park. All nine tents were empty.

By 5:40 a.m., the entire camp was dismantled.

Davies said the nylon tents were meant for use in the summer and were a health concern for the protesters with declining temperatures. He added tent occupants had open fires in the tents with cardboard floors.

As of the afternoon, there were no signs of any protesters in the park. (story)

December 14: Occupy Regina protesters appeared in municipal court. Lawyer Noah Evanchuck adjourned the matters until January 17. Evanchuck added protesters were planning to challenge the tickets based on what they believe a violation of their rights.

Lonnie Mickel spoke on his own behalf and said he wasn't in the park and was only on the sidewalk. The judge entered a not guilty plea and set a January 25 trial date. (story)