After nearly three weeks, the Occupy Nelson movement is reaching out to the community by holding a public meeting.
The movement launched on October 15 when members of the community rallied at Nelson’s City Hall.
Since then a group of occupiers has set up camp in front of City Hall and a larger group continues to meet every night.
“This meeting is a chance for the community to come back together and start discussing how we want to move forward,” says Kendra Cooper from Occupy Nelson.
“The fact that the camp is still here is a great victory, but we also need to start thinking about where we want this movement to go in the long-term.”
The site at City Hall has changed shape over the past three weeks and now includes a kitchen with compost and a resource tent where members of the community can learn more about the movement and why people continue to gather in Nelson and around the world.
After meetings with Mayor John Dooley, city councillors and city staff, occupiers have agreed to pack up their camp on November 9 before the annual Remembrance Day events.
“The support from the community so far has been amazing. People have been bringing food, blankets and warm clothes, participating in the meetings, and generally keeping our spirits high,” says an Occupy Nelson camper known as Stretch.
“The meeting is a chance for us to show our gratitude and allow the community to have its voice heard. We’re all in this together as the 99 per cent and if we stay united there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”
One major question that will be addressed at the meeting is the relocation of the camp for Remembrance Day, how and when it will return, and the option to move the camp to the city campground for the winter, which was offered by Mayor Dooley on October 25.
The public meeting will be held on Thursday at the Scout Hall at 310 Cedar Street from 7 to 9 p.m.
Occupy Nelson is part of a worldwide movement.