Great Occupy Toronto images

Some cool Occupy Toronto images: Union Bank/TD Bank campaign, 1987 Image by Heritage Vancouver From our massive campaign in 1987 against the proposed demolition of the 1919-1920 Union Bank Building (TD Bank Bldg), located at 560 Hastings Street and Seymour. Architects were Somervell and Putnam. Vancouver was so close in losing the building, that a demolition permit was issued, and plans were underway for the demolition. Luckily, and with considerable work, it survived, was restored, and is now the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, part of Simon Fraser University. Pictured here in the 1987 photo is Jim Kerr (left), Alderman Gordon Price (centre rear), and Anthony Norfolk (top hat) who’s currently leading our Advocacy Group in 2011. Designed by the architects Somervell and Putnam and constructed between 1919 and 1920, the building served as local headquarters of the Union Bank for only six years. It then was occupied by the Bank of Toronto and the Toronto Dominon Bank for the remainder of the time. The building is one of three so-called ‘temple banks’ in Vancouver which derive their proportions and detailing from the style of Greco-Roman temples. It was customary for the banks of the time to favour the use of this kind of historical motif to evoke a sense of security and stability, which appealed to the conservative nature of the bankers. It’s also a fine example of Second Renaissance architecture, which had become popular for large houses, apartments, schools and commercial buildings. This architectural style features a strong horizontal emphasis; wide bracketed cornices; and a variation of window shape or decorative trim for each of several floors. Photo by Ed Olson Hanging our heads in shame Image by Swamibu View large The world should hang it’s head in shame. Gaza has become “hell on earth” for its 1.5 million inhabitants [John Ging, head of the United Nations refugee agency in Gaza] “Who for a minute thinks we can take care of one and half million people in three hours, when before it was a full time job for 10,000 people?” [John Ging, head of the United Nations refugee agency in Gaza] “A three-hour ceasefire to go and see whether your mum and dad are alive is not a humanitarian corridor, it’s a tea break for the soldiers.” [Western NGO worker] The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. [Samuel Johnson] A group of eight Jewish-Canadian women successfully occupied the Israeli Consulate in Toronto today. “We felt so strongly about protesting this terrible violence against the Palestinian people” said Smadar Carmon, “that we decided to take extraordinary action. We hope others, Jews and non-Jews will follow our lead and speak out against the Israeli massacres, the on-going siege and in solidarity with the people of Gaza.” [January 7th 2009] May Day Image by Pagla Dashu পাগলা দাশু Over 1200 people in Toronto came out to support May day this year with several actions and protests taking place in the annual festival of workers rights. Concurrent demonstrations also took place in other parts of Canada. Similar to 2012, a small contingent began gardening in a small patch at Queens Park. Occupy Gardens provided training, dances, speeches and hot food to dozens of protesters who eventually dug up the sod and grass and began creating a makeshift garden on the grounds of the legislature planting peas, garlic, onions, kale, lettuce and radishes. The day’s main rally and march gathered at City Hall hours later. Dozens of groups joined the protest, led by a group carrying a two row wampum. Organizers talked about deaths in Bangladesh, the work of No One is Illegal around Sanctuary City and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty’s (OCAP) work around shelter beds in the City of Toronto. This years march focused on solidarity actions with garment workers in Bangladesh and striking workers at Porter Airlines. (Source: toronto.mediacoop.ca/story/may-day-alive-and-well-toronto…) N.B.- The photo in the poster was taken by GMB Akash. PICT0045 Image by Harrattan Parhar