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Calgary Herald

Despite some heated moments, fond memories of G8 summit 23 years later

Article content But she said ultimately, there was little need for such an assurance. Both the protesters and the police were on their best behaviour and there were no real instances of serious violence. Article content 'The protests were well-attended and well-policed, the police were outwardly very friendly,' said Farrell. Article content 'Council was kept apprised of the planning by the security groups,' she added. 'There was a real effort to keep the security subtle even though (serious contingencies) existed behind the scenes.' Article content But Farrell, who served on council from 2001 to 2021, said she wonders if police will take the same tack during the 2025 G7, when they oversee demonstrations in Calgary, where many of the participating entourages will be spending the night. Article content Article content Article content Retired defence lawyer Stephen Jenuth was part of an 80-member team monitoring the conduct of protesters and police during the 2002 summit. Article content He recalls one period of pandemonium when protesters were pressing against a security cordon on the Stampede grounds. Article content 'It was pretty intense, they were going to knock down a fence and one of my observers was standing on the fence,' said Jenuth, who was then the president of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association. Article content 'You could the police with the soft hats disappearing and ones with the hard hats coming forward. I was fiddling with my gas mask.' Article content But he said that situation was ultimately defused and there wasn't much more to be concerned about despite demonstrations that sometimes attracted nearly 3,000 activists and hordes of police. Article content His team that included members of Amnesty International would ride bicycles from SAIT into downtown where they'd observe 'how demonstrators were treated and how they behaved.' Article content Article content They were equipped with $10 cameras to document any unreasonable action while slinging Polish-made gas masks, said Jenuth. Article content For the most part, both sides acquitted themselves admirably and the gas masks were never used, he said. Article content 'We were there to make people feel confident in what they were doing,' said Jenuth. 'The protesters were able to get their points across peacefully.' Article content At one point, only one protester made it to the cells, an activist soon dubbed 'the $400-million man.' Article content Environmentalist Patricia Letizia said she was gratified to see the priority placed on ecology by activists and even some of the summit participants. Article content 'I was really impressed with the environmental focus and it was even kind of exciting to see all the security initiatives,' said Letizia, past CEO of Alberta Ecotrust.