The Occupy movement and its Vancouver supporters who are camped out in the public square of the city's downtown art gallery will not deter or detract from the Grey Cup Festival. This is the opinion of Scott Ackles, who is responsible for the Canadian Football League parties and parade as the general manager of the 2011 Grey Cup Festival.
"I really don't see any issues with the two co-existing," he told the Courier Wednesday evening, confirming the art gallery was never planned as a celebration site.
Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is seeking re-election in Saturday's civic vote, told the editorial board of the Province newspaper Nov. 15 that he wanted the Occupy Vancouver encampment "gone before the Grey Cup weekend."
He later added, "People have the right to protest but the tent city needs to go. The city has serious concerns with the safety of the tent city."
The four-day Grey Cup Festival begins Nov. 24 with events around the city, including a Safeway-sponsored parade scheduled for Nov. 26. It culminates with the CFL championship game Nov. 27 at B.C. Place Stadium.
Ackles said he hadn't made any requests the tent encampment be dismantled for the sake of the CFL or the thousands of fans who will travel to Vancouver.
He chose not to comment on Robertson's decision to hitch a deadline for the camp's removal to the Grey Cup Festival. "I certainly didn't ask him to do that," Ackles said.
"I'm putting on a sporting event and an entertainment event and it's not about politics," he said. "It's about celebrating 99 years of history and it's about amateur football, it's about families and football fans."
He added with a laugh, "We'll stay focused on what we know."
Twitter: @MHStewart
