An interaction between a security guard contracted by the City of Peterborough and Food Not Bombs Peterborough has drawn condemnation from supporters of the grassroots group.
On Monday (March 4) in Confederation Square across from City Hall, where Food Not Bombs weekly distributes free meals to those in need, a security guard directed the group that it now must have a city-issued permit to continue do so.
Will Pearson, a Food Not Bombs volunteer, was leading the meal serving at the time.
“He (the security guard) approached me and said that he had been directed to come and inform us that we don’t have a permit and, without a permit, we weren’t allowed to be in the park,” says Pearson, adding he’s not sure if the group does have a permit.
“We’ve been doing this for 17, 18 years and, to my knowledge, that has never been an issue,” Pearson adds, referring to a permit. “I can’t speak for the group, but I was a little bit confused. My priority was to serve the meal. I knew we had dozens of people coming within 20 minutes, so I was like ‘Well, I’m going to keep going because I really want to serve this meal.’ That’s what I did.”
According to a Facebook post by long-time volunteer Myles Conner, the group has been serving meals at Confederation Park or outside City Hall every Monday since November 2005 — almost 19 years.
Pearson says he asked the security guard what by-law, or portion of a by-law, the group was “contravening” but the security guard “said he didn’t know.”
“He said the city had informed him that we don’t have a permit and that it was his job to shut us down. He then went back to his car, talked to whoever his contact is, came back and said he would give us an hour to tear down and leave, and that if he came back in an hour and we were still there, he would have to call the police.”
That didn’t happen as the group was done serving its meal within an hour. But on Wednesday (March 6), Pearson received an emailed statement from Mayor Jeff Leal that provided clarity on the permit need and noted the city raised the matter with Food Not Bombs on February 12.
“The permit process helps keep our community safe by ensuring that aspects such as fire safety, electrical setups, the location of structures, and other considerations are agreed upon for the use of public space,” wrote Mayor Leal.
“After three weeks, a permit application had not been started. Since the group did not have a permit, it was asked to remove its tent and tables from Confederation Square on March 4, and given information on how to get a permit for its activity.”
Pearson says he has “no reason to dispute” Mayor Leal’s confirmation that Food Not Bombs was served notice that a permit is now needed to serve meals in the park.
“It’s possible that some (Food Not Bombs) volunteer received that but I don’t know if that’s true,” says Pearson.
Promising to look into the matter is city councillor Joy Lachica.
“I’m not sure what happened but I’d like to hear what precipitated this because it’s very surprising,” she says. “The next step is to find out what transpired and to mitigate anything like this from happening again. What I know so far is upsetting to hear.”
“We all care very much about the good work that groups and individuals do to help support those that are more vulnerable by addressing our food security issues, so we certainly want to get to the bottom of this.”
Far more direct are two supporters of Food Not Bombs, both of whom wrote emails to the city, the Mayor, and city councillors decrying the security guard’s approach and subsequent ultimatum that it pack up and leave.
“The actions taken by the security guard raise serious questions about the priorities and values of Peterborough City Hall,” wrote Naomi Duvall. “By allowing such treatment of individuals engaged in humanitarian efforts, it sends a message that the city does not prioritize the well-being of its most vulnerable residents.”
“Furthermore, the enforcement of arbitrary rules, such as the prohibition of tents in parks, only serves to exacerbate the hardships faced by marginalized communities. Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness and poverty, it perpetuates cycles of inequality and exclusion.”
In her letter, Kate Story echoed that view.
“While it may seem like one isolated event, the fact that community volunteers — engaged in humanitarian efforts driven by an organization that has been feeding our community’s citizens living in poverty and food insecurity for many years — were intimidated while doing their important work is extremely troubling.”
“When we look squarely at the fact that Peterborough has consistently failed to address the root causes of poverty and homelessness, it becomes even more troubling.”
Story also made a plea to “not allow outsourced security to set the tone of the way our city deals with frontline volunteers feeding the hungry and advocating for social justice,” adding “It’s not a small incident. It must be addressed immediately and it must not happen again.”
As for Food Not Bombs’ plan for this coming Monday night (March 11), Pearson expects “it will be business as usual.”
Every week, Food Not Bombs collects surplus food from farmers, gardeners, grocers, bulk food stores, bakers, and the community at large and then, at All Saints Anglican Church, prepares a meal that is transported each Monday night to Confederation Square. The free meals feed, on average, about 50 people.
The wholly volunteer-driven group’s stated mission is to “defend and reclaim community, sovereignty and food justice from the jaws of poverty and war.”
Update Thursday, March 7
kawarthaNOW contacted Myles Conner, an official representative of Food Not Bombs Peterborough, who is currently out of the country.
In an email, Conner states he is unaware of any communication from the City of Peterborough that was provided to the group on Monday, February 12.
“Maybe the city ordered someone to inform us but I have checked in with each other person helping that night and none of us have any recollection of (this) occurring,” Conner says, adding that it is possible the notice was handed to a “random person” who was not part of the group.
