It seems frustration over a disparity of wealth distribution has peaked in Prince George along with so many other cities in North America.
Since Sept. 17, protests have occupied at Wall Street in New York City, and spread to cities across the U.S. and Canada, to take a stand against the supposed "one per cent" of people who "own all the wealth."
Now an Occupy Wall Street protest is coming to Prince George.
On Saturday at 11 a.m. outside of city hall, an unknown number of protesters are expected to gather for about three hours. A Facebook page dedicated to the event lists 110 confirmed "guests" as of Wednesday afternoon.
"We may not have a Wall Street here in Prince George but we do experience all the same injustices created by the ever-growing disparity between the rich and poor," states the Facebook page, Occupy Wall Street - Prince George.
"In many cases we experience them more severely in the north because of a lack of access to services that culminate in higher levels of poverty, abuse and addiction.
"Martin Luther King said, 'There comes a time when silence is betrayal.' It's time to speak up."
Speakers meant to empower and video clips meant to inspire will greet participants, and entertainment will take place in the form of drum circles, dancing, local bands and food.
"Bring signs, warm clothes, instruments, food to share, and passion," states the website.
Roughly a month after the protests began in New York's financial district, they've spread across the border and across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver.
"Now we feel like there is a need to make a statement here," said Josh Mann one of the organizers. "We just want to make a change, and even if we don't make a change right now, we're going to make a change in the future."
North Central Labour Council president Aaron Ekman said he's been keeping an eye on the movement via feeds on the internet and plans to attend the one in Prince George.
"It's really encouraging to see so many people come together,saying 'look, we have to do something substantially different or we're going to be in real trouble," Ekman said.
Asked if the issues being raised are relevant to Prince George, Ekman said "they're relevant everywhere."
"All of this economic downturn stuff is interconnected and we're affected as much as anybody else is, especially being in a resource community," Ekman said.
Ekman alluded to a union-backed campaign to encourage more spending on locally-owned businesses.
Called 10 Per Cent Shift, the campaign saw Canadian Union of Public Employees - B.C. president Barry O'Neill addressing the Prince George Chamber of Commerce this week.
"You're starting to see these unlikely alliances forming between labour and particularly small business to try to keep a larger share of dollars that get circulated around in our communities," Ekman said.
Prince George Chamber of Commerce president Gaurav Parmar said he doesn't know much about the movement and that goes to a sense that its message is not very clear or focussed.
"It's hard to say. Are they protesting against corporate America or corporate Canada coming in and taking jobs and taking jobs and taking money from local businesses? If that's the idea, then it's pretty simple - people can vote with their wallets and if you have something against big Canadian businesses, then don't shop there."
