A long-planned and large Christmas season public skating rink covering the Centennial Square spot where the Occupy Victoria tent city sits is about to test the community spirit of protesters and the downtown business association.
The two sides have yet to meet to deal with the problem B次元官网网址� a temporary 17 by 11-metre ice rink the Downtown Victoria Business Association plans to install Nov. 21.
However, both sides are optimistic a simple solution can be found.
Ken Kelly, DVBA general manager, says he expects his organization will meet with PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Assembly of Victoria representatives within two weeks to sort out the situation.
The business association has been planning the ice rink project since mid-August B次元官网网址� almost seven weeks before the PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Assembly held its first organizational meetings.
PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Assembly supporters live in about 20 tents hat were set up at Centennial Square last Saturday after a day-long protest in the square and downtown march by about 1,000 people, as part of the worldwide protest against corporate and banking industry greed, and economic control.
Saying he personally supports the B次元官网网址渟piritB次元官网网址� of Occupy Victoria in finding solutions to social and economic ills facing the community, Kelly said, B次元官网网址淚 would be really very surprised if there is nothing but co-operation between usB次元官网网址� in ensuring the rink will be set up.
Most of the protest tents sit on the planned ice rink site on the lower level of the square beside McPherson Playhouse.
Anushka Nagji, a PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Assembly spokesperson, said the ice rink comes as a shock to her group and will be discussed by the group.
The solution might be as simple as negotiating some useful material concessions from the downtown business community for moving the tent city to the more weather-exposed side of Centennial Square, she said.
However, it is up to the assembly to decide what to do B次元官网网址� if anything, said Nagji, adding that the protesters know the square does not belong to them and is a public place for all people and organizations to use.
Current plans call for the open-air ice rink to officially open Nov. 26 for what has, until now, been the annual Centennial Square Light-up. If a solution is found to deal with the tent city, the rink would be open to skaters daily until Jan. 2.
The rink costs $60,000 to rent and is supplied by an Ontario company. The DVBA plans to ask users to contribute a toonie to defray expenses, said Kelly. Skate rentals will be available.
If all goes well in finding a solution with the PeopleB次元官网网址檚 Assembly, B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to inviting all of Greater Victoria to come and enjoy an outdoor skate this winter,B次元官网网址� he said.
The ice B次元官网网址� rain or shine B次元官网网址� is good until the weather hits higher than 10 C, he said. The ice is kept cold via a chiller and piping that runs under the ice sheet.
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