CTV News has learned of a plan to try to keep activists far away from the G20 meetings at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this June, by creating a designated protest zone in Trinity Bellwoods Park.
The park is located roughly 2 kilometres away on Queen Street.
Police spokesperson Meaghan Gray would not say whether officials are expecting violent protests.
“I don’t know what we are expecting,” she told CTV Toronto. “We are strongly encouraging anyone who wants to protest during the G20 to use that location.”
It’s not the first time a designated protest zone has been created for the G20. Last year, police used the same tactic in London.
One woman who lived in London at the time, and who now resides in Toronto near Trinity Bellwoods, says she can understand the reasoning behind the zone.
“It was peaceful and they just camped out there,” she said of the London zone. “But obviously things could escalate, and you don’t want to see horrible things happen.”
Another nearby resident, Philipe Fiorio, said the park would be a poor choice for the zone.
“If you look around, there are kids playing. It’s a family area,” he said.
Police said they will transmit live video of the protests to world leaders in the Convention Centre -- if they choose to watch.
With a report by CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney
