[GREN-Exec] Fordest

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the e-mail and speaking up.  As you and I have discussed on the phone there are no fixed plans yet for FordFest at Bingeman’s and things are evolving rapidly as environmental groups, climate change groups, labour unions, teacher unions, nurses unions, and others all try to figure out what Ford is planning for FordFest in Kitchener, if the event is even going ahead, or if it will be cancelled like London’s FordFest.

The one thing that everyone is sure about is that Bingeman’s is private property and we will not be allowed to protest on Bingeman’s property.  Any protesters can expect to be rapidly removed if not outright arrested for trespassing.  We expect given all the recent Greenbelt publicity that Doug Ford is not going to be in a good mood and will be looking to make an example of anyone he can target.  All the unions and groups involved in the rally planning are very clear that they do not want negative publicity and that the news stories need to be about Doug Ford’s actions and not our members arrests.

I realize that you are really disappointed but we can only work within the legal bounds and the situation that we have - that is to either protest on Shirley Avenue in front of Bingeman’s on the public road right of way or hold a protest somewhere else in the region such as Waterloo Town Square or Downtown Cambridge which would likely be even less effective.

The Rally Committee is seeking volunteers to help with the organizing and the lead is being taken by Jeff Donkersgoed at the Waterloo Region Labour Council.  Feel free to reach out him at:
jeffd at waterloolabour.ca with any ideas or offers of assistance. 

I am very excited to see so many groups in Waterloo Region that have never worked together before teaming up to see what we might be able to accomplish.  They are determined to draw strong numbers and perhaps we may have more people outside on the road than there are even attendees inside which sends a strong message and makes a good news story in itself.

All of the GREN membership receives detailed updates weekly and is encouraged to participate and help out in events happening regularly in across our watershed and province.  We have been seeing really strong levels of engagement recently and hope that we all can continue to make a strong impacts against the dreadful actions of this provincial government.

Please share any thoughts or ideas.

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

> On Aug 23, 2023, at 10:31 AM, Greg Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> 
> In an email this morning from the Council of Canadians there is mention of a  protest sponsored by GREN and the Labour Council at the street entrance to Bingemans on Sept. 8 where the Fordfest is being held.
> 
> I'm not aware that GREN has ever discussed  this  or formally approved it.
> 
> I have another idea re what we could do, and possibly be far more inventive and effective in terms of media coverage. I've gone to two protests at the Bingemans intersection and the results are very poor:  little traffic going past and poor media coverage.  This is "same old". 
> 
> I 'm really disappointed.
> 
> -Greeg, treasurer
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