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11/5/11, "Woman dies at Occupy Vancouver site," Vancouver Sun, by Mike Hager
"Tensions are high at the Occupy Vancouver site after a female, who is believed to be in her 20s, died late Saturday afternoon in what Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services are calling a "medical emergency."
The woman was found unresponsive around 4:30 p.m. and was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
VFRS spokesman Capt. Gabe Roder confirmed the woman who died was in a tent, but it is unknown whether she was a resident of the tent city.
Witnesses report a chaotic scene outside the Vancouver Art Gallery Saturday around 5 p.m. At least two ambulances responded to the art gallery grounds.
Chris Shaw, 61, was the first medic to respond to the woman in question. He reportedly found the woman in a tent bordering Howe Street without a pulse.
Shaw, a former Army medic, along with two other Occupy medics performed CPR for 10 minutes while they awaited the arrival of an ambulance.
Shaw said he didn't know if it was an overdose or not, but they don't know how long she was unresponsive because the woman had been in the tent alone....
On Thursday, a man overdosed at the Occupy Vancouver tent city. Someone accompanying the man was able to call for help immediately and he survived.
Shaw said he hopes that this death does not bring condemnation of the Occupy site from the greater public. He said homeless people with substance abuse issues are being given better treatment at the Occupy site than they are in the city's shelters and streets....
A candlelight vigil was held on Georgia street with roughly 100 people.
Occupiers also had a memorial service on the steps of the Art Gallery where they spoke about the young woman's life and the systemic nature of substance abuse in our society. An informal meeting was held with occupiers discussing whether or not to have Insite Supervised Safe Injections sites on the Occupy site.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson released a statement regarding the death reiterating the need to close down the Occupy site due to pressing life safety issues, but would not give a concrete date or way to end the tent city.
The death at the Vancouver campsite came as protesters at the Occupy Edmonton campsite prepared to hunker down for the winter months.
After days of deliberation, the group decided to spend about $3,000 to buy two large military-style tents, said Occupy spokesman Mohamed Mahad, 23. The floor space of each tent is about five-by-five meters, Mahad said. One tent will be used for sleeping and meetings, and the group will decide how to best use the extra space in the second tent.
“We are here for the long haul,” Mahad said.
There are about 20 protesters at the camp who still spend their nights in the dozen or so tents that remain at small, privately-owned park at the corner of 102nd Street and Jasper Avenue.
In preparation for winter, the group will begin dismantling the tents that cannot stand up to Edmonton’s harsh winter weather....
“None of them can stand the large amount of snowfall,” Mahad said. The protesters have also acquired a two room, four-season tent. Some protesters have- also pitched ice-fishing tents in the park.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Occupy Victoria movement rallied in Centennial Square on Saturday then marched in an effort to “occupy the banks” Saturday afternoon.
About 150 people listened to speakers in Centennial Square who spoke about social justice and financial reform then proceeded to the intersection of Douglas and Fort streets where three banks are located.
Security guards at Royal Bank and TD bank locked their doors as protesters tried to enter, waving their client cards and indicating they wanted to shut down their account.
People were chanting “unlock the doors” as a security guard stood in the Royal Bank foyer.
The People’s Assembly of Victoria said in a press release that Nov. 5 is International Bank Transfer Day “which seeks to shift our funds from the for-profit banking institutions in favour of not-for-profit credit unions, sending a clear message that conscious consumers won't support companies with unethical business practices.”
Similar rallies were taking place in Vancouver and across the world."
via Free Republic, photo Vancouver Sun, Jason Payner
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