February 6: Demonstration and actions in Victoria call for the immediate eviction of VANOC
February 1, 2010 – Coast Salish Territories - Victoria, BC - The Victoria Coalition Against Poverty (VCAP) and No2010 Victoria will be serving the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) an eviction notice at the VANOC/Spirit Committee offices in Bastion Square on February 6th, 2010.
After ten years of Liberal cuts, abysmal welfare, inadequate disability rates and inaccessible healthcare, the Olympic costs will have direct local impact on already burdened communities. The Olympic Torch Relay cost Victoria over $600,000, and the costs of the Olympics in total will be over $6 billion.
“The true cost of the Olympics will continue to be immeasurable as we see an increase in poverty, criminalization, and ill health of those who are most marginalized”, said Rob Crosby of the Committee to End Homelessness. “The most vulnerable people are footing the bill for the Olympic party, and we’ve had enough!”
The demonstration and actions will begin when VCAP and No2010 Victoria serve VANOC with a people’s eviction notice. After the eviction, the groups will leave for a march with speakers and surprise actions. The event will finish with a street feast at Centennial Square.
“We demand that VANOC vacate Victoria immediately and compensate thousands of people in our city and throughout BC for the damages they’ve already caused,” stated Tamara Herman from VCAP/No2010Victoria. “The BC government has continued to ignore skyrocketing homelessness and poverty in this province in the face of reckless spending on the Games. Today we’re calling on this to end!”
PRESS CONFERENCE: FEBRUARY 6, 2 PM, BASTION SQUARE
The Victoria Coalition Against Poverty (VCAP) is a coalition of grassroots organizations that together are demanding an immediate end to poverty.
No2010 Victoria is a local collective opposed to the 2010 Vancouver
Olympic Games.
Media Contacts:
Shane Calder: 250-893-0853
Tamara Herman: 250-857-9768
Shannon Lucy: 250-661-0989
Mik Turje: 250-884-6811
Email: viccoalitionagainstpoverty@gmail.com and no2010victoria@gmail.com
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.