The City of Saskatoon has followed through on its eviction notice and removed Occupy Saskatoon from Gabriel Dumont Park on Monday afternoon.
City Manager Murray Totland issued the eviction notice Sunday morning, telling protesters they had until 11:00 a.m. Monday to leave or they would be removed.
The eviction didn’t happen until 1:00 p.m. when city officials arrived at the park and told the occupiers to start tearing down their tents.
Around 20 protesters then began removing their gear.
The eviction notice was issued after fears were raised about the personal health, safety and welfare of the protesters with freezing temperatures, a situation city officials said had grown “dangerous.”
Over the weekend, one protester who needed medical attention did not cooperate with emergency workers while another protester was showing signs of hypothermia.
Occupy Saskatoon said the eviction violates their Charter right to freedom of expression and assembly and they originally said they would not leave the park.
However once the eviction started, they issued a Facebook plea for assistance for help to remove their equipment.
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