Even though the B.C. Supreme Court let Victoria legally kick Occupy Victoria protesters out of Centennial Square, the public won’t be skating on the square’s ice rink until Dec. 3.
That’s the earliest the temporary rink will be ready for skaters after remaining protesters refused to moved their camp until the enforcement order was granted Monday morning.
However, everything else will be ready for the annual Christmas light-up and Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Nov. 26.
Some former Occupy Victoria protesters plan to participate in the parade as their way of supporting small business and the community, according to the protest website.
The website “invites all our participants” to the parade and carry signs like “Occupy Christmas, Buy Local.”
Ken Kelly, general manager of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, which rented the portable outdoor rink from an Ontario company, says work installing it won’t begin until Nov. 26 and will take five days to complete.
